Five o'clock
Bessie stooped ; we mutually embraced , and I followed her into the house quite comforted . That afternoon lapsed in peace and harmony ; and in the evening Bessie told me some of her most enchanting stories , and sang me some of her sweetest songs . Even for me life had its gleams of sunshine . Five o'clock had hardly struck on the morning of the 19th of January , when Bessie brought a candle into my closet and found me already up and nearly dressed . I had risen half-an-hour before her entrance , and had washed my face , and put on my clothes by the light of a half-moon just setting , whose rays streamed through the narrow window near my crib . I was to leave Gateshead that day by a coach which passed the lodge gates at six a.m. Bessie was the only person yet risen ; she had lit a fire in the nursery , where she now proceeded to make my breakfast . Few children can eat when excited with the thoughts of a journey ; nor could I. Bessie , having pressed me in vain to take a few spoonfuls of the boiled milk and bread she had prepared for me , wrapped up some biscuits in a paper and put them into my bag ; then she helped me on with my pelisse and bonnet , and wrapping herself in a shawl , she and I left the nursery .