six o'clock
She was to attend from nine till three , and her salary was to be twenty-five pounds a year at first , and afterwards more , if her services were found satisfactory . She stipulated for a fortnight 's holiday at Christmas , and also at Midsummer : not for the sake of her own pleasure , but from the fear that her home business would accumulate faster than she could discharge it , so as to render it necessary to devote a short time occasionally to clear it away , and set things straight again . Before she entered on her new engagement , she laid down a plan for the employment of her days , to which she determined to adhere as strictly as possible . It was as follows : for the summer season , which was now approaching , she rose before six o'clock , and set apart two hours for study . Study was absolutely necessary , if she was to keep up , or improve , her ability to teach ; and she found that the hours before breakfast were the most quiet and undisturbed that she could devote to this purpose . At eight o'clock the little family assembled in the parlour , to join in prayer , and in reading a short portion of Scripture ; after which , they breakfasted . Jane then saw her sisters and little brother off to school , and went into her kitchen to give her household directions before she went out .