about ten o’clock
The travellers took their places in the carriage , and again the monotony of the road , the steady trot of the horses , the sing-song words of encouragement of their driver , monopolised the thoughts of sleepy minds . It seemed to Estella that life was all journeys , and that she had been on the road for years . The swing of the carriage , the little varieties of the road , but served to add to her somnolence . She only half woke up when , about ten o'clock , a halt was made to change horses , and the General quitted the carriage for a few minutes to talk earnestly with two horsemen , who were apparently awaiting their arrival . No time was lost here , and the carriage went forward with an increased escort . The two new-comers rode by the carriage , one on either side . When Estella woke up , the moon had risen and the carriage was making slow progress up a long hill .