five o'clock in the morning
The sisters were in high spirits . The only place they could find for the purpose was the wash-house and laundry . Once in five weeks two women , in high white muslin caps and checked aprons , of whom Betsy Seddon was one , Betty Pucklechurch the other , came to assist the maids in getting up the family linen -- a tremendous piece of work . A tub was set on the Saturday , with ashes placed in a canvas bag on a frame above ; water was poured on it , and ran through , so as to be fitted for the operations which began at five o'clock in the morning , and absorbed all the women of the establishment , and even old Pucklechurch , who was called on to turn the mangle . Except during this formidable week , the wash-house and laundry were empty , and hither were invited the children . About twenty , of all ages , came -- the boys in smocks , the girls in print frocks and pinafores , one in her mother 's black bonnet , others in coarse straw or sun-bonnets . All had shoes of some sort , but few had stockings , though the long frocks concealed the deficiencies , and some wore stocking-legs without feet .