six o'clock
He then became easy , and sat down to supper with Pillichody . So elated was he by his success , that , yielding to his natural inclination for hard drinking , he continued to revel so freely and so long with his follower , that daybreak found them over their wine , the one toasting the grocer 's daughter , and the other Patience , when they both staggered off to bed . A couple of hours sufficed Rochester to sleep off the effects of his carouse . At six o'clock he arose , and ordered his attendants to prepare to set out without delay . When all was ready , he sent for Amabel , but she refused to come downstairs , and finding his repeated messages of no avail , he rushed into her room , and bore her , shrieking to his steed . In an hour after this , they arrived at an old hall , belonging to the earl , in the neighbourhood of Oxford . Amabel was entrusted to the care of a female attendant , named Prudence , and towards evening , Rochester , who was burning with impatience for an interview , learnt , to his infinite disappointment , that she was so seriously unwell , that if he forced himself into her presence , her life might be placed in jeopardy .