midnight
Though he did not know it , despatches of a similar nature had been following or preceding him these past three months , a fact certainly not uncomplimentary to an officer who had been out of the academy a scant ten years , whatever the additional aspects . As it was , Armitage , not given to worrying , dismissed the incident for the time being and yielded full attention to the voluble porter . The young officer was from Kentucky , had been raised with negroes , and understood and liked them thoroughly . With five minutes remaining before midnight he was about to knock the fire from his pipe when a bustle at the gate attracted his attention . A party , two women , their maids , and a footman bearing some luggage , was approaching the train . The older woman was of distinguished bearing and evidently in no amiable mood ; the younger was smiling , trying to pacify her . `` Well , mother , '' she said , as the party stopped at Armitage 's car , `` the worst of the ordeal is over .