noon
The morning hours lagged dreadfully . Both warriors smoked innumerable cigars , but only to find fault with the flavor thereof . The lieutenant tried to keep his heart up by relating two or three stories , at the points of each of which the major forced a boisterous laugh , but the mirth upon both sides was visibly hollow . Dinner was set at noon , the usual military dinner-hour , but little was consumed , except a bottle of claret , which the major , who seldom drank , seemed to consider it advisable to produce . The after-dinner cigar lasted only until one o'clock ; newspapers by the noon-day mail occupied their time for but a scant hour more , and an attempted game of cribbage speedily dropped by unspoken but mutual consent . Suddenly the garden gate creaked . The lieutenant sprang to his feet , looked out of the window , and exclaimed : `` It 's her darkey -- he 's got an answer -- oh , major ! ''