five in the morning
-- In a representation of the common events befalling us in these times , upon an appreciation of which this history depends , one turns at whiles a languishing glance toward the vast potential mood , pluperfect tense . For Nevil Beauchamp was on board the cutter , steering her , with Dr. Shrapnel and Lydiard in the well , and if an accident had happened to cutter or schooner , what else might not have happened ? Cecilia gathered it from Mrs. Wardour-Devereux , whom , to her surprise and pleasure , she found at Romfrey Castle . Her friend Louise received a letter from Mr. Lydiard , containing a literary amateur seaman 's log of a cruise of a fifteen-ton cutter in a gale , and a pure literary sketch of Beauchamp standing drenched at the helm from five in the morning up to nine at night , munching a biscuit for nourishment . The beautiful widow prepared the way for what was very soon to be publicly known concerning herself by reading out this passage of her correspondent 's letter in the breakfast room . ` Yes , the fellow 's a sailor ! ' said Lord Romfrey .