midnight
-- what happened ? '' `` Nothing to fear , sir -- nothing at all , general ; -- I am thankful to say , that all I saw , and all we all saw , was Miss Emily pulling at the bell-rope with blood upon her face , and Mr. Julian on the floor : but I took the young lady to Sir Abraham 's immediately , general , at her own desire . '' The father arose sternly ; his first feeling was to kill Julian ; but the second , a far better one , predominated -- he must go and see Emily at once . So , faintly leaning on the butler 's arm , the poor old man -LRB- whom a moiety of ten minutes , with its crowding fears , had made to look some ten years older , -RRB- proceeded to the square , and knocked up Sir Abraham at midnight , and the admiral came down , half asleep , in dressing-gown and slippers , vexed at having been knocked up from his warm berth so uncomfortably : it put him sorely in remembrance of his hardships as a middy . `` Kind neighbour , thank you , thank you ; where 's Emmy ? take me to my Emmy ; '' and the iron-hearted veteran wept like a driveller . Sir Abraham looked at him queerly : and then , in a cheerful , friendly way , replied -- `` Dear general , do not be so moved : the girl 's quite safe with us ; you 'll see her to-morrow morning .