five o'clock
The next day was spent in a wearisome stage coach , over a rough , jolting road . Ellen 's companions did nothing to make her way pleasant , but she sweetened theirs with her sugar - plums . Somewhat mollified , perhaps , after that , Miss Margaret condescended to enter into conversation with her , and Ellen underwent a thorough cross-examination as to all her own and her parents ' affairs , past , present , and future ; and likewise as to all that could be known of her yesterday 's friend , till she was heartily worried , and out of patience . It was just five o'clock when they reached her stopping-place . Ellen knew of no particular house to go to , so Mrs. Dunscombe set her down at the door of the principal inn of the town , called the `` Star , '' of Thirlwall . The driver smacked his whip , and away went the stage again , and she was left , standing alone , beside her trunk , before the piazza of the inn , watching Timmins , who was looking back at her out of the stage window , nodding and waving good-bye . The little Queen in the Arm-Chair .