noon
I am glad to find you so late , as I have had no breakfast , and have ridden ten miles . '' He took breakfast with us and went on . The morning passed somewhat heavily , as a morning is apt to do , after sitting up late and drinking punch . Towards noon Desborough said , -- `` Now , if anybody will confess that he drank just three drops too much punch last night , I will do the same . Mrs. Buckley , my dear lady , I hope you will order plenty of pale ale for lunch . '' Lunch passed pleasantly enough , and afterwards the Major , telling Sam to move a table outside into the verandah , disappeared , and soon came back with a very `` curious '' bottle of Madeira . We sat then in the verandah smoking for about a quarter of an hour .