ten o'clock
As we proceeded , the road wound near the beds of what had been formerly two fish-ponds , which were now nothing more than stagnant swamps , overgrown with rank weeds , and here and there encroached upon by the straggling underwood ; the avenue itself was much broken ; and in many places the stones were almost concealed by grass and nettles ; the loose stone walls which had here and there intersected the broad park , were , in many places , broken down , so as no longer to answer their original purpose as fences ; piers were now and then to be seen , but the gates were gone ; and to add to the general air of dilapidation , some huge trunks were lying scattered through the venerable old trees , either the work of the winter storms , or perhaps the victims of some extensive but desultory scheme of denudation , which the projector had not capital or perseverance to carry into full effect . After the carriage had travelled a full mile of this avenue , we reached the summit of a rather abrupt eminence , one of the many which added to the picturesqueness , if not to the convenience of this rude approach ; from the top of this ridge the grey walls of Carrickleigh were visible , rising at a small distance in front , and darkened by the hoary wood which crowded around them ; it was a quadrangular building of considerable extent , and the front , where the great entrance was placed , lay towards us , and bore unequivocal marks of antiquity ; the time-worn , solemn aspect of the old building , the ruinous and deserted appearance of the whole place , and the associations which connected it with a dark page in the history of my family , combined to depress spirits already predisposed for the reception of sombre and dejecting impressions . When the carriage drew up in the grass-grown court-yard before the hall-door , two lazy-looking men , whose appearance well accorded with that of the place which they tenanted , alarmed by the obstreperous barking of a great chained dog , ran out from some half-ruinous outhouses , and took charge of the horses ; the hall-door stood open , and I entered a gloomy and imperfectly-lighted apartment , and found no one within it . However , I had not long to wait in this awkward predicament , for before my luggage had been deposited in the house , indeed before I had well removed my cloak and other muffles , so as to enable me to look around , a young girl ran lightly into the hall , and kissing me heartily and somewhat boisterously exclaimed , `` My dear cousin , my dear Margaret -- I am so delighted -- so out of breath , we did not expect you till ten o'clock ; my father is somewhere about the place , he must be close at hand . James -- Corney -- run out and tell your master ; my brother is seldom at home , at least at any reasonable hour ; you must be so tired -- so fatigued -- let me show you to your room ; see that Lady Margaret 's luggage is all brought up ; you must lie down and rest yourself . Deborah , bring some coffee -- up these stairs ; we are so delighted to see you -- you can not think how lonely I have been ; how steep these stairs are , are not they ? I am so glad you are come -- I could hardly bring myself to believe that you were really coming ; how good of you , dear Lady Margaret . ''