midnight
Why had Judge Conway so abruptly torn his daughter away from Davenant at the ball in Culpeper -- and why had that shadow passed over the old statesman 's brow when I uttered the name of the young man in Richmond ? I asked myself these questions vainly -- and decided in my mind that I should probably never know . I was mistaken . I was going to know before midnight . After an excellent supper , over which Miss Georgia presided with stately dignity -- for she , too , had changed , in as marked a degree as Mohun , -- I rose , declared I must return to Petersburg , and bade the young ladies , who cordially pressed me to remain , good-night . Mohun declared that he would remain an hour longer -- and having promised a visit soon , at his camp on the Rowanty , I mounted my horse , and set out , through the darkness , for Petersburg . Following the White Oak road , I passed Hatcher 's Run at Burgess 's mill , and went on over the Boydton road , reflecting upon the scene I had just left .