six p.m.
The anchor let go , Smellie and I jumped into the gig , and , taking the despatch-box with us , pulled ashore , landing at the Sally-port . From thence we proceeded , first to the admiral 's office , and afterwards to the `` George '' in High Street , where I ordered a post-chaise ; and then the pair of us sat down to a hastily-prepared dinner while the carriage was in process of fitting-out . In consequence of my representations to the admiral , he had ordered the `` Vigilant '' into harbour immediately , to refit and make good the slight damage inflicted on us during the gale in the Bay of Biscay , and , when the post-chaise was announced , Smellie only remained long enough to see me fairly under way , when he returned on board to take the little hooker into harbour , and superintend the operation of refitting . It was not quite six p.m. when we shoved off from before the door of the `` George , '' and dashed away up the High Street , and soon afterwards the chaise was bowling along at a spanking pace over the dry , white , dusty road in the open country -- the landscape flooded in the lovely golden haze of a fine summer evening , and the air heavy with the perfume of flowers and the sweet , health-giving smell of rich pasture-lands , long chestnut-avenues , and thick pine plantations . The mingled odours of the country -- so different from the strong smell of the sea-breeze -- the sight of the slanting sunbeams glancing through the boles and branches of the venerable trees dotted here and there in clumps along the roadside ; of the verdant hedges with their rich clusters of delicate dog-roses and trailing honeysuckle or wild convolvulus ; of the groups of sleek cattle feeding in the fields , contemplatively chewing the cud under the shade of some over-hanging tree , or browsing along the roadside ; of the knots of rosy , sun-tanned children playing about the village-roads or on the green , and turning to stand open-mouthed and stare at the chaise as we dashed past ; of the pretty cottages nestling in a bower of greenery , each with its tiny flower-garden in front , and a thin wreath of blue smoke curling up from its chimney into the still evening air ; of the picturesque villages , with their ancient church-spires pointing heavenward ; and of the stately country-seats of the gentry , surrounded by noble trees , the growth of centuries , the deer clustered beneath their umbrageous branches , with their spacious flower-terraces and long avenues of limes , arching chestnuts , or venerable oaks , reaching from the house to the distant road , and terminating in snug little ivy - covered lodges and heavy ornamental iron gates with massive stone piers , moss-grown , and surmounted by time-worn and weather-stained stone sculptures of the arms of the family ; the drowsy chime of the church - clocks ; the barking of dogs ; the lowing of cattle ; the voices of herdsmen or field-labourers singing as they wended their weary way homeward after the labour and heat of the day -- the sound softened and mellowed by distance ; all combined to render that journey one of the most pleasant and enjoyable I had ever undertaken , notwithstanding the pain and discomfort which I experienced from my wounded arm . The evening passed on ; the lovely , silent twilight insensibly deepened into night ; the stars twinkled forth , one by one , in the pure , clear , deepening blue overhead ; the road gradually widened ; the houses along its sides became more and more frequent , the atmosphere thickened ; the horizon ahead grew luminous ; lights appeared and rapidly increased in number , soon they were glancing on both sides of us ; a dull , heavy roar became audible , and finally , as the church-clocks were striking the hour of midnight , the chaise pulled up before the door of my uncle 's house in Saint James 's Square ; and I had arrived in town . As the post-boy let down the steps and threw open the carriage-door for me to alight , I could see through the fanlight over the door that there was a light in the hall , so I felt pretty certain that my uncle had not yet retired .