‘Without Heaven’s blessing it would all have failed, William; let us thank Heaven then for the happy issue.’
‘But I cannot believe that a female, a mere girl of but twenty years, could accomplish what thou hast done, Fanny; how can it be possible? Thou hast compassed that which would have done credit to a naval captain,’ and he strained her again to his breast. ‘And I have been here in this brig with you these four days and my heart did not tell me that I was near you; how can this be true?’
‘No wonder, you thought me as dusky as a negro.’
‘I did not once suspect that you were colored.’
‘It is stain put on for a more perfect disguise.’
‘Most perfectly done.’
‘It has proved so, since it has deceived you,’ said Fanny, laughing through her tears of joy.
‘It was well conceived, my noble girl,’ said Lovell, ‘and these clothes too—I never saw you look more interesting.’
Fanny managed to blush even through the deep tinge of brown that bronzed her handsome cheek. And when does a female look more interesting than when betraying the modest color of virtue. It is a rainbow from the heart showing it to be unvitiated by the evil and bitterness of the world.
‘Shall I wear these to the end of the voyage?’ asked Fanny.