six in the morning
* * * * * Towards the close of September , M. Laferté took it into his head to make a tour of provincial visits _ en famille _ . He had never done such a thing before , and I really believe it was all to show off Barty to his friends and relations . It was the happiest time I ever had , and shines out by itself in that already so unforgettably delightful vacation . We went in a large charabancs drawn by two stout horses , starting at six in the morning , and driving right through the Forest of la Tremblaye ; and just ahead of us , to show us the way , M. Laferté driving himself in an old cabriolet , with Josselin -LRB- from whom he refused to be parted -RRB- by his side , singing or talking , according to order , or cracking jokes ; we could hear the big laugh of Polyphemus ! We travelled very leisurely ; I forget whether we ever changed horses or not -- but we got over a good deal of ground . We put up at the country houses of friends and relations of the Lafertés ; and visited old historical castles and mediæval ruins -- Châteaudun and others -- and fished in beautiful pellucid tributaries of the Loire -- shot over `` des chiens anglais '' -- danced half the night with charming people -- wandered in lovely parks and woods , and beautiful old formal gardens with fishponds , terraces , statues , marble fountains ; charmilles , pelouses , quinconces ; and all the flowers and all the fruits of France ! And the sun shone every day and all day long -- and in one 's dreams all night .