six o'clock
It would not do to walk to-day , professedly to walk , -- we should be frightened at the very sound ! and yet it is probable that we may be beguiled into a pretty long stroll before we return home . We are going to drive to the old house at Aberleigh , to spend the morning under the shade of those balmy firs , and amongst those luxuriant rose trees , and by the side of that brimming Loddon river . ` Do not expect us before six o'clock , ' said I , as I left the house ; ` Six at soonest ! ' added my charming companion ; and off we drove in our little pony chaise , drawn by our old mare , and with the good humoured urchin , Henry 's successor , a sort of younger Scrub , who takes care of horse and chaise , and cow and garden , for our charioteer . My comrade in this homely equipage was a young lady of high family and higher endowments , to whom the novelty of the thing , and her own naturalness of character and simplicity of taste , gave an unspeakable enjoyment . She danced the little chaise up and down as she got into it , and laughed for very glee like a child , Lizzy herself could not have been more delighted .