eight o'clock
She was only seventeen , and in several ways she was unconventional , even unworldly . In others , however , she was a perfect woman of the world , and a match for her mother . Northbury was so completely out of the world that it only had a postal delivery twice a day . The early post was delivered at eight o'clock , so that the good people of the place could discuss their little items of outside news over their breakfast-tables . The postman went round with his evening delivery at seven . He was not overwhelmed by the aristocracy of Rosendale Manor , and , notwithstanding Mrs. Bertram 's open annoyance , insisted on calling there last . He said it suited him best to do so , and what suited Sammy Benjafield he was just as determined to do , as Mrs. Bertram was to carry out her own schemes .