midnight
If she had not been held by the sea-music of the poem , she would not have kept her deep , steady brown eyes fixed on me . I have no hesitation in repeating that we were getting on famously and enjoying ourselves immensely . I got nearly to the end : '' ... Here came a mortal , But faithless was she , And alone dwell forever The Kings of the sea . But , children at midnight -- '' The door opened wide . Topping his long stiff body , Marigold 's ugly one-eyed head appeared , and , as if he was tremendously proud of himself , he announced : `` Major Boyce . '' Boyce strode quickly past him and , suddenly aware of Betty by my side , stopped short , like a private suddenly summoned to attention . Marigold , unconscious of the blackest curses that had ever fallen upon him during his long and blundering life , made a perfect and self-satisfied exit .