about eleven o’clock
There was an excursion train to Hastings , and accordingly Ellen , Marie , and myself were at London Bridge Station early in the morning . It was a lovely summer 's day in mid-July . The journey down was uncomfortable enough in consequence of the heat and dust , but we heeded neither one nor the other in the hope of seeing the sea . We reached Hastings at about eleven o'clock , and strolled westwards towards Bexhill . Our pleasure was exquisite . Who can tell , save the imprisoned Londoner , the joy of walking on the clean sea-sand ! What a delight that was , to say nothing of the beauty of the scenery !