midnight
The obstacle beneath my feet made me stagger ; I grasped the folds of a window-curtain in the hope of saving myself , but my equilibrium was too far gone -- down came the curtain -- over I went , head first , against a flower-stand , on which were a nondescript array of flowerpots , a canary bird in a cage , and a big Maltese cat in a basket . The force of my fall upset the stand , and , with all its favorites , it turned over on the carpet ! Plants , cat , bird , cage , and Roy Sunderland , all lay in one mass of ruin together at the feet of the astonished Miss Hay . The cat was the first to recover her presence of mind , and with a `` midnight cry '' which would have appalled the stoutest heart , she sprang into my face , tearing up the skin with a violence worthy the admiration of all persons who believe in the wisdom of `` getting at the root of a matter '' at once . I scrambled up -- gave the animal a blow that sent her to the other side of the room -- and hatless , and bloody , made for the door . With frantic haste I seized the handle -- it did not yield ; the door was fastened by a spring lock , and I was a prisoner ! Imagine my dismay !