about seven
o'clock in the evening
I soon discovered the spring , upon pressing which the back flew open , disclosing a circlet of glossy chestnut hair reposing upon an oval of pale yellow silk , in the centre of which were painted the words `` Maria Lascelles ; aet . 18 . C.L. '' Closing the case again and placing it carefully in my bosom , I turned my thoughts to my new prospects ; and whilst collecting together a few of my more treasured valuables to take with me , and packing the remainder away in a place of safety , I suffered myself to indulge in much pleasant speculation upon my immediate future . On the following morning , about ten o'clock , my father and I left town in a post-chaise , and , stopping only for an hour about mid-day to dine at a pleasant little road-side country inn , arrived , at about seven o'clock in the evening , at our destination . This was a large brick - built edifice evidently constructed especially to serve the purposes of a scholastic establishment , standing in its own somewhat extensive grounds , and situated in a lonely spot about half a mile from the sea , and -- though actually in Hampshire -- some four miles only from the port of Poole in Dorsetshire . I was speedily presented to the principal , who at once made a favourable impression upon me , afterwards abundantly confirmed ; and , after perhaps half an hour 's conversation with him , my father formally delivered me over to his care and left me -- his leave - taking , though somewhat hurried , being decidedly warmer than his abstracted manner during the journey had led me to expect . At this school , let it suffice to say , I remained for the following seven years ; enjoying , during that period of my life , such happiness as , up to then , my imagination had never been able to conceive ; and devoting myself to my studies with a zest and enthusiasm which won the warmest encomiums from the several masters who had charge of my education .