ten o'clock in the morning
And sometimes these articles lay in their dirty state in the untidy kitchen , out of which a room , half parlour , half bedroom , opened on one side , and a dairy , the only clean place in the house , at the opposite . In face of you , as you entered the door , was the entrance to the working-kitchen , or scullery . Still , in spite of disorder like this , there was a well-to-do aspect about the place ; the Corneys were rich in their way , in flocks and herds as well as in children ; and to them neither dirt nor the perpetual bustle arising from ill-ordered work detracted from comfort . They were all of an easy , good-tempered nature ; Mrs. Corney and her daughters gave every one a welcome at whatever time of the day they came , and would just as soon sit down for a gossip at ten o'clock in the morning , as at five in the evening , though at the former time the house-place was full of work of various kinds which ought to be got out of hand and done with : while the latter hour was towards the end of the day , when farmers ' wives and daughters were usually -- ` cleaned ' was the word then , ` dressed ' is that in vogue now . Of course in such a household as this Sylvia was sure to be gladly received . She was young , and pretty , and bright , and brought a fresh breeze of pleasant air about her as her appropriate atmosphere . And besides , Bell Robson held her head so high that visits from her daughter were rather esteemed as a favour , for it was not everywhere that Sylvia was allowed to go .