noon
said Miss Porter . `` If it were you instead of Miss Ray he was in love with , how long would you let your badge keep him at a distance ? '' The sun went down on their unappeased wrath that second night in Manila Bay , and with the morrow came added cause for disapprobation . Before the noon hour a snow-white launch with colors flying fore and aft steamed alongside , and up the stairs , resplendent , came Stuyvesant 's general with a brace of staff officers , all three precipitating themselves on the invalid and , after brief converse with him , all three sending their cards to Miss Ray , who had taken refuge on the other deck . And even while she sat reflecting what would be the wiser course , the general himself followed the card-bearer , and that distinguished warrior , with all the honors of his victorious entry fresh upon him , inclined his handsome head and begged that he might present himself to the daughter of an old and cherished friend of cadet days , and seated himself by her side with hardly a glance at the array of surrounding femininity and launched into reminiscence of `` Billy Ray '' as he was always called , ana it was some little time before she could say , -- `` Will you let me present you to Dr. Wells , who is practically my commanding officer ? '' a request the general was too much of a gentleman not to accede to at once , yet looked _ not _ too much pleased when he was led before that commanding dame , and then distinctly displeased as , taking advantage of her opportunity , the indignant lady burst forth with her grievance : `` Oh ! This is General Vinton !