nine
o'clock
Of that comfortable meal , within twenty minutes ' time or so , they partook with a hearty relish . What mortal , however delicate , could resist the fare set before them -- the plump capon , the delicious grilled ham , the poached eggs , the floury potatoes , home-baked bread , white and brown -- custards , mince-pies , home-brewed ale , as soft as milk , as clear as amber -- mulled claret -- and so forth ? The travellers had evidently never relished anything more , to the infinite delight of old Mrs. Aubrey ; who observing , soon afterwards , irrepressible symptoms of fatigue and drowsiness , ordered them all off to bed -- Kate sleeping in the same chamber in which she was sitting when the reader was permitted to catch a moonlight glimpse of her . They did not make their appearance the next morning till after nine o'clock , Mrs. Aubrey having read prayers before the assembled servants , as usual , nearly an hour before -- a duty her son always performed when at the Hall ; but on this occasion he had overslept himself . He found his mother in the breakfast-room , where she was soon joined by her daughter and daughter-in-law , all of them being in high health and spirits . Just as they were finishing breakfast , little Aubrey burst into the room in a perfect ecstasy -- for old Jones had taken him round to the stables , and shown him the little pony which had been recently presented to him . He had heard it neigh -- had seen its long tail -- had patted its neck -- had seen it eat -- and now his vehement prayer was , that his papa , and mamma , and Kate would immediately go and see it , and take his little sister also .