noon
A span of high-strung blacks , with white feet , and they gave the negro at their heads all he could do to keep them from going . They chafed their bits , and stamped , and fretted at the delay , their tiny feet eager to be speeding away . The master was going alone to meet his darling . Springfield had no railway , and Salome was to arrive at Lebanon , eighteen miles distant , by noon . Mr. Grundy came out arrayed in his best , as though he was going to meet the Queen of England . His strong old face was alight with a great happiness , as he bent and kissed his wife , then leaped down the steps like a school-boy . He shouted back his adieus to each of us ; the negro on the front seat gathered up his lines , and braced his feet ; the negro standing at the head of the team loosened his hold , and stepped swiftly to one side .