nearly nine o'clock
`` What ! '' he exclaimed . `` My girlies not abed yet ! Why , it is nearly nine o'clock ! Miss Lucy will think I have kidnapped you . '' They hurried away , with laughing good-nights , after being assured by the Doctor that probably Colonel Gresham would `` come out all right . '' David slept downstairs now , in a tiny room adjoining the physician 's , and his last thought that night was of the strangeness of it all -- Uncle David 's hurrying to catch Dr. Dudley for him , and his being the first to notify the Doctor of his uncle 's illness , while they had not even a bowing acquaintance with each other !