eleven o'clock
Hannah am mighty sudden sometimes in huh ways . '' With this final tribute to his spouse , he shut the door quietly and departed . In due time Haddon Brown handed `` Mistah Breckenridge '' the documentary evidence of his freedom , and immediately on its receipt Hannah rose , donned her most radiant attire , shook out a few farewell peals of laughter , and departed , closely followed by the friend of the family , beautiful in patent-leather shoes , new gray spats , and a tie to match . Left alone , ` Rastus rearranged his household possessions , watered the geraniums blooming in his basement windows , scrubbed , washed , answered bells as scrupulously as of yore , and each night , when the work of the day was done , donned his best clothes , oiled his crinkly hair , and departed , returning in time for his usual inspection of the halls at eleven o'clock . At the end of one month he set a fresh geranium in the window , purchased a generous supply of provisions , went forth attired like Solomon , and came back holding in one hand the hand of a blushing bride , and in the other the `` stifkit , '' signed by the negro minister who had just married them . No two human beings could have been more unlike than the former and the present Mrs. ` Rastus Calhoun Breckenridge . The bride was tall , thin , chocolate-colored , serious , and hard-working .