eleven o'clock
He called Lee aside , spoke rapidly to him , and the latter , beckoning Vincent , left the room . He returned in ten minutes , announcing that everything was in readiness to set out . The carriage with Mrs. Sprague 's and Merry 's small luggage was ready when the cavalcade set out , Davis riding with them and the cavalry company from below , divided into squadrons before and behind the carriage . It was eleven o'clock as the last dark line of the troop disappeared . Olympia and Jack stood at the great gate in mournful silence . The swiftness of the parting had lessened the pain , but their minds were full of the sorrow that follows the inevitable . Mrs. Sprague had herself declined to postpone the ordeal when Mrs. Atterbury pointed out the untimely hour .