nearly midnight
And she was right . Her mother wondered how she could have taken such a terrible cold . But leaving Dr. Partridge to cure her cold with calomel and laudanum , after the manner of the day , let us inquire in a historical spirit what it was in the news of the result at Lee which should cause a young woman to laugh so immoderately . It had been nearly midnight of the preceding evening , when Reuben wearily and slowly making his way along the dark and difficult road , reached Lee , and was directed at the rebel outposts to the house of Mrs. Perry as the place which Perez occupied as a headquarters . Although it was so late , the rebel commander , too full of anxious and brooding thoughts to sleep , was still sitting before the smouldering fire in the kitchen chimney when Reuben staggered in . `` Reub , '' he cried , starting up as he recognized his brother , `` what 's the matter ? Has anything happened at home ? ''