about half
past seven
This description , indeed , would not apply quite generally to all the ladies ; but the majority in his favour was five to three , and with this advantage , -- that whereas his admirers were loud and eloquent in their expressions of approval , the minority contented themselves by preserving silence . Helen Mowbray knew that the choleric friend whose gentler feelings she wished to propitiate was an early riser himself , and was never better disposed to be well pleased with others than when they showed themselves capable of following his example . She was therefore anxious to arrive at his house in time to have the conversation she sought , yet dreaded , before nine o'clock , the usual family breakfast-hour ; though in the shooting-season Sir Gilbert generally contrived to coax my lady and her housekeeper to have hot rolls smoking on the table by eight . But , luckily for the young ladies ' morning repose , it was not shooting-season ; and they calculated that if they started about half past seven they should have time for their walk , and a reasonably long conversation afterwards , before the breakfast , to which they looked as the pacific conclusion of the negotiation , should be ready . At half past seven , accordingly , the fair friends met at the door of Rosalind 's dressing-room , and set off , fearless , though unattended , through the shrubberies , the park , the flowery lanes , and finally , across one or two hay-fields , which separated the two mansions . Nothing can be better calculated to raise the animal spirits than an early walk in the gay month of June ; and on those not accustomed to the elasticity , the freshness , the exhilarating clearness of the morning air , the effect is like enchantment . All the sad thoughts which had of late so constantly brooded round Helen 's heart seemed to withdraw their painful pressure , and she again felt conscious of the luxury of life , with youth , health , and innocence , a clear sky , bright verdure , flowery banks , and shady hedge-rows , to adorn it .