noon before
All day yesterday , as long as it was light enough to see , I watched in vain . No one left the house , except the gallant , gay , young midshipman -- the walking gentleman of this light comedy . So I went back to mine inn late at night , and much disappointed . This morning I was here very early , but waited until near noon before anything happened ! Then I saw the squire and the rector ride forth together and take the road to Benedict . Then I made a descent upon the fort . So you have my Californian sweetheart staying with you ? ''