seven o'clock
Kitty got her uncle 's letter the night before starting up the Saguenay , and quite too late for compliance with his directions concerning Quebec ; but she resolved that as to Boston his wishes should be fulfilled to the utmost limit of possibility . She knew that nice Mr. March must be acquainted with some of those very people . Kitty had her uncle 's letter in her pocket , and she was just going to take it out and read it again , when something else attracted her notice . The boat had been advertised to leave at seven o'clock , and it was now half past . A party of English people were pacing somewhat impatiently up and down before Kitty , for it had been made known among the passengers -LRB- by that subtle process through which matters of public interest transpire in such places -RRB- that breakfast would not be served till the boat started , and these English people had the appetites which go before the admirable digestions of their nation . But they had also the good temper which does not so certainly accompany the insular good appetite . The man in his dashing Glengarry cap and his somewhat shabby gray suit took on one arm the plain , jolly woman who seemed to be his wife , and on the other , the amiable , handsome young girl who looked enough like him to be his sister , and strode rapidly back and forth , saying that they must get up an appetite for breakfast .