“Sure her trick was to make you believe I was newly from home, sir.”
“She assured me positively that you was but just arrived in Calcutta, madam. But stay—pray, madam, may I be favoured with your name?”
“My name is Fraser, sir,” and I permitted Mr Watson to catch a glimpse of the wedding-ring upon my finger. Figure to yourself my alarm, Amelia, when he burst into a great shout of laughter.
“What! the lady over whom Mr Fraser and I have been quarrelling all day?” he cried.
“Oh, dear sir, have I brought Mr Fraser into fresh difficulties?”
“Why, madam, I thought he had taken undue advantage of my easy temper when he confessed he had married the lady I permitted him only to rescue. But I protest I’d have done the same myself on the like provocation.”
“But you won’t make him suffer, sir, for his generosity to a poor desolate creature that had no friend but him?”
“He has plenty of consolation, madam, if I did. But figure to yourself how the affair appears to his comrades. Lieutenant Fraser, admitted through the Admiral’s softness to an indulgence he don’t in the least deserve, outstays his leave without permission, and contrives not only to take part in Colonel Clive’s battle at Placis but to marry a handsome wife. It’s clear he must be punished.”
“Oh, pray, dear sir, pray——”
“Now pray, madam, don’t cry. I was about to say that for the sake of others I must leave Mr Fraser in his old station, not allowing him to profit by the accidents that have of late advanced so many of our officers to a higher rank, but if he’ll carry himself in that situation so as to merit my favour (and with such a lady to inspire him I don’t doubt but he will), why, he shall have it!”