four o'clock in the
afternoon
`` Dinah North felt my superiority even as a child , and the mortifying consciousness increased her hatred . She feared the lofty spirit of the boy whom her tyrannical temper could not tame ; who laughed at her threats , and defied her malice , and who , when freed from her control , enjoyed the sweets of liberty in a tenfold degree . `` Sir Alexander put me to a school in the neighbourhood , where I learned the first rudiments of my mother tongue , writing , reading , and simple arithmetic . The school closed at half-past four o'clock in the afternoon ; when I returned to the Lodge , for so the cottage was called in which we resided , and which stood just within the park at the head of the noble avenue of old oaks and elms that led to the Hall . Two of the loveliest , sweetest children nature ever formed were always at the Park gates watching for my coming , when they ran to meet me with exclamations of delight , and we wandered forth hand in hand to look for wild fruit and flowers among the bosky dells and romantic uplands of that enchanting spot . `` Alice Mornington and Margaretta Moncton were nearly the same age , born at least within three months of each other , and were six years younger than I. Strikingly different in their complexion , appearance and disposition , the two little girls formed a beautiful contrast to each other . Alice was exquisitely fair , with large , brilliant , blue eyes , like my poor mother 's , and long silken ringlets of sunny hair which curled naturally upon her snow-white shoulders .