eleven o'clock before
Moreover , she had no notion of investing in more than one likeness apiece for each of us . This ambrotype was to be kept in the family archives , for the benefit of generations to come ; the idea of having a dozen taken , or even half a dozen , to give away to one 's friends , had not at that time entered the minds of country people in that portion of New England . We had at first intended to start by nine in the morning and arrive by ten or eleven , so as to have the benefit of the midday sun -- an important requisite for an ambrotype . But it was eleven o'clock before all were properly ready , and Gram then decided to have our noon meal before setting off . We got off a few minutes past noon . All the doors of the farmhouse were locked , or otherwise fastened , the garden gate closed and the horses harnessed . The Old Squire with Gram led the way in the single wagon , and we six cousins , with Addison driving old `` Sol , '' followed in the express wagon , three on a seat .