about nine o'clock
CHAPTER I. -- A strong Farmer 's Establishment and Family . It was one summer morning , about nine o'clock , when a little man , in the garb and trim of a mendicant , accompanied by a slender but rather handsome looking girl about sixteen , or it may be a year more , were upon their way to the house of a man , who , from his position in life , might be considered a wealthy agriculturist , and only a step or two beneath the condition of a gentleman farmer , although much more plain and rustic in his manners . The house and place had about them that characteristic appearance of abundance and slovenly neglect which is , unfortunately , almost peculiar to our country . The house was a long slated one , and stood upon a little eminence , about three or four hundred yards from the highway . It was approached by a broad and ragged boreen or mock avenue , as it might be called , that was in very good keeping with the premises to which it led .