nearly noon
Even this was not composed by himself , for Cousin George , though he could often talk well , -- or at least sufficiently well for the purposes which he had on hand , -- was not good with his pen on such an occasion as this . Lady Altringham had sent him by post a rough copy of what he had better say , and he had copied her ladyship 's words verbatim . There is no matter of doubt at all but that on all such subjects an average woman can write a better letter than an average man ; and Cousin George was therefore right to obtain assistance from his female friends . He slept at Penrith till nearly noon , then breakfasted and started with post-horses for Humblethwaite . He felt that everybody knew what he was about , and was almost ashamed of being seen . Nevertheless he obeyed his instructions . He had himself driven up through the lodges and across the park into the large stable-yard of the Hall .