about eight o’clock in the
morning
Of course , like a fool , I tried to explain , whereon everybody tittered . But why do I write of such trifles that have nothing to do with my story ? I mentioned that I had ventured to send a letter to Miss Margaret Manners about Mr. Charles Scroope , in which I said incidentally that if the hero should happen to live I should probably bring him home by the next mail . Well , we got into Plymouth about eight o'clock in the morning , on a mild , November day , and shortly afterwards a tug arrived to take off the passengers and mails ; also some cargo . I , being an early riser , watched it come and saw upon the deck a stout lady wrapped in furs , and by her side a very pretty , fair-haired young woman clad in a neat serge dress and a pork-pie hat . Presently a steward told me that someone wished to speak to me in the saloon . I went and found these two standing side by side .