about eight in the evening
Lady Ardagh gladly complied , and her sister Mary , who still continued unmarried , and Lady D -- were of course included in the invitations . Lady Ardagh had requested her sisters to set forward as early as possible , in order that she might enjoy a little of their society before the arrival of the other guests ; and in compliance with this request they left Dublin almost immediately upon receiving the invitation , a little more than a week before the arrival of the festival which was to be the period at which the whole party were to muster . For expedition 's sake it was arranged that they should post , while Lady D -- 's groom was to follow with her horses , she taking with herself her own maid and one male servant . They left the city when the day was considerably spent , and consequently made but three stages in the first day ; upon the second , at about eight in the evening , they had reached the town of K -- k , distant about fifteen miles from Castle Ardagh . Here , owing to Miss F -- d 's great fatigue , she having been for a considerable time in a very delicate state of health , it was determined to put up for the night . They , accordingly , took possession of the best sitting-room which the inn commanded , and Lady D -- remained in it to direct and urge the preparations for some refreshment , which the fatigues of the day had rendered necessary , while her younger sister retired to her bed-chamber to rest there for a little time , as the parlour commanded no such luxury as a sofa . Miss F -- d was , as I have already stated , at this time in very delicate health ; and upon this occasion the exhaustion of fatigue , and the dreary badness of the weather , combined to depress her spirits .