midnight
Nor did anyone think to ask how Bolivar and Shelby happened to be there when they were supposed to be miles away . Many details were quite overlooked that night , which was a fortunate circumstance for Miss Helen Doolittle , and her hard-hit midshipman , who had `` frenched '' out of Bancroft not only with mamma 's knowledge , but with her coöperation . To have formed an alliance with Foxy Grandpa 's niece and clinched that end of the scheme of things would have been one step in the direction of securing an ample income , and once that lover 's knot was tied , Helen was to be whisked back to the school and the secret kept . Mamma was at the Willard waiting for `` those darling children '' to come , and when , much later than he was expected , `` dear Paul '' arrived alone and in a greatly perturbed state of mind , mother and son had considerable food for thought until the midnight car carried them back to Annapolis , where Paul `` clomb '' the wall at the water 's edge and `` snoke '' into quarters -LRB- in Bancroft 's vernacular -RRB- in the wee , sma ' hours , a weary , disgusted and unamiable youth . Perhaps had he suspected what was happening back at Columbia Heights his prompt oblivion in slumber would not have taken place , though Paul was a philosopher in his way . Helen was with friends and `` she 'd knock off crying when she found she had to ; all girls did . '' Selah !