three o'clock in the morning
Then she told me all about the house here ; and how she was afraid Hubert had said something impatient about people who go to foreign parts and leave their country to be attacked , ` But you know he did not really mean it , ' she said ; and of course he did not . Well , the people had remembered that , and it spread and spread ; and when the news of the Armada came last week , a mob came over from East Grinsted , and they sat drinking and drinking in the village ; and of course Grace could not go out to them ; and all the old people are gone , and the Catholics on the estate -- and so at last they all came out roaring and shouting down the drive , and Mrs. Carroll was warned and slipped out to the Hall ; and she is now gone to Stanfield to wait for us -- and then the crowd broke into the house -- but , oh Anthony , Grace was so sorry , and cried sore to think of us here ; and asked us to come and stay there ; but of course I told her we could not : and then I said a prayer for her ; and we kissed one another again ; and then I came away . '' Anthony looked at his sister , and there was honour and pride of her in his eyes . * * * * The ride to Stanfield next day was a long affair , at a foot 's - pace all the way : the horses were thoroughly tired with their journey , and they were obliged to start soon after three o'clock in the morning after a very insufficient rest ; they did not reach Groombridge till nearly ten o'clock , when they dined , and then rode on towards Tonbridge about noon . There were heavy hearts to be carried as well . The attempt to welcome the misery of their home-coming was a bitter effort ; all the more bitter for that it was an entirely unexpected call upon them . During those six years abroad probably not a day had passed without visions of Great Keynes , and the pleasant and familiar rooms and garden of their own house , and mental rehearsals of their return .