“Going out? Why, to join the regiment—from the dépôt.”
“And when we join our regiment our duty is to—”
“Guard the convicts! Good heavens!”
The young man sprang from the chair in which he had been lounging, and turned white as paint, then he flushed with anger, turned pale again, and glared about the vessel.
Just then Mrs Hallam came out of the cabin with Julia and mounted to the after deck, going slowly to the vessel’s side, as was her custom, to gaze away east and south, talking softly to her child the while.
“Oh, it is impossible!” said Eaton at last. “How dare you make such a charge!”
“My wife makes no charge, Phil,” said Captain Otway firmly. “She only tells you what we think. Perhaps we are wrong.”
“And now that you suspect this,” said Eaton sarcastically, “are you both going to hold aloof from these ladies?”
“Certainly not!” said Mrs Otway warmly. “I have always found them most pleasant companions during our voyage, and I am the last woman to visit the sins of one person on the rest of his family.”
“And yet you abuse me for doing as you do!” cried Eaton impetuously.