noon
The civilian clothes did not please him at all . Every other minute his hand was up at his neck , feeling for a collar-band which seemed to be much too loose , but which , in reality , was not there at all . His wife came in , busy as ever , in her hat and cloak , a little leather bag and an umbrella in her hand . She was to start at noon for the little mountain railway-station , where she would get the house ready for the furniture , which should arrive during the day . The sergeant-major , or rather the station-master 's assistant , had some money matters to settle in the garrison town , and would not follow her until the next morning . Frau Schumann was quite out of breath . Those stupid gunners had been so disagreeable when she wished to have her flowers put in the furniture van .