midnight
Half an hour later , Patricia , rested and refreshed , took her seat behind the oxen , which the owner of the cabin had harnessed up , with much protestation of his eagerness to serve the daughter of Colonel Verney , emptied her purse in the midst of the open-mouthed children , and bade kindly adieu to the good wife . Darkeih curled herself up in the bottom of the cart , and Landless and Regulus walked beside it . In two hours ' time they were at Verney Manor , where they found none but women to greet them , Rendered uneasy by the storm , Woodson had despatched a messenger to Rosemead , who had returned with the tidings that no boat from Verney Manor had reached that plantation . The overseer had ill news with which to greet the Colonel and Sir Charles when at midnight they arrived unexpectedly from Green Spring . Since then every able-bodied man had deserted the plantation . There were no boats at the wharf , no horses in the stables . The master and Sir Charles were gone in the Nancy , the two overseers on horseback .