midnight
`` Oh , yes , Jack . I put them under Carlyle ; two letters . '' The captain merely glanced at the superscription of the first letter , but when the second caught his eye , he shot one quick look at his wife , their eyes met , and leaving the first letter upon the table , he stowed the heavier missive in the breast-pocket of the civilian suit he was wearing , led the way to the dining-room door , and there smilingly bowed the ladies to the brightly-lighted table , and demanded of Miss Sanford an immediate and detailed account of the day 's conquests . Not until near midnight could Grace see her husband alone . It was `` band night , '' and long before they had finished tea rich strains of music came floating in from the parade , and , as is always the case , visitors began to arrive . Several ladies and officers dropped in during the evening ; they sat on the piazza enjoying the serenade until the shrill piping of the fifes and rattle of the drums sounding tattoo sent the musicians off to bed and numerous pairs of white trousers scurrying towards the cadet barracks . They watched the simultaneous `` dousing of the glim '' in the long façade as the clock struck ten and the three taps of the drum ordered `` lights out . ''