three o'clock in the morning
said Mrs. Buckley , `` If the dear old rheumatic creatures from the alms-house at Clere could only spend to-morrow with us , how it would warm their old bones ! Fancy how they are crouching before their little pinched grates just now ! '' `` Hardly that , Mrs. Buckley , '' I said laughing ; `` they are all snug in bed now . It is three o'clock in the morning , or thereabouts , at home , you must remember . Miss Thornton , I hope you have got over your journey . '' `` Yes , and I can laugh at all my mishaps now , '' she replied ; `` I have just got homely and comfortable here , but we must make one more move , and that will be the last for me . Mary and Mr. Troubridge have taken up their country to the south-west , and as soon as he has got our house built , we are going to live there . ''