midnight
Sally , you 've read a hundred stories , have n't you , which went like this -- the ceremony , the good wishes , the rice , the old shoes , then -- `` he jerked down the curtain of the cab window , '' -- `` Alone at last , '' he murmured , `` my _ wife _ ! '' `` He folded her in his arms . '' I think Michael Daragh 's feeling was that we were not _ entirely _ alone , and that it was a rather large order to fold in his arms a swearing parrot , a shivering , hairless dog , a robust Mexican orphan , a bride and a dope fiend , for he made not the first gesture of the above ritual . It is after midnight . Dolores is asleep here in my stateroom , a smile of seraphic peace on her face , but in the room next door I hear the steady murmur of M.D. 's voice reading to poor Randal , who can not sleep , who has tried to jump overboard . Michael dares not leave him for an instant , even to tell me good-night . Sally , it _ is _ really funny , but I have to keep assuring and reminding myself that it is .