ten o'clock
Mrs. Dade and the aide-de-camp chatted on social matters . The general exchanged an occasional word with his host and hostess , and finally surprised neither of them , when breakfast was over and he had consumed the last of his glass of hot water , by saying to his staff officer , `` I should like to see Mrs. Hay a few minutes , if possible . We 'll walk round there first . Then -- let the team be ready at ten o'clock . '' But the team , although ready , did not start northward at ten , and the general , though he saw Mrs. Hay , had no speech with her upon the important matters uppermost in his mind during the earlier hours of the day . He found that good lady in a state of wild excitement and alarm . One of the two outriders who had started with her husband and niece at dawn , was mounted on a dun-colored cow pony , with white face and feet .