six a.m.
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 . As we passed Mrs. Reed 's bedroom , she said , `` Will you go in and bid Missis good - bye ? '' `` No , Bessie : she came to my crib last night when you were gone down to supper , and said I need not disturb her in the morning , or my cousins either ; and she told me to remember that she had always been my best friend , and to speak of her and be grateful to her accordingly . ''