"Humph! yes: her friends," said Mrs Otway. "What relatives are Sir Gordon Bourne and the Reverend Christie Bayle to the fair queen of my gallant soldier's heart?" "I don't know," he said impatiently. "Why are they all going out to Port Jackson?" "I don't know. How should I?" "Oh! they might have told you in conversation." "I did not trouble myself about such things. Hang it all! Mrs Otway, how could I be so petty?" "Is it not natural that a man should be anxious to know who and what are the relatives of the lady he thinks of as his future wife?" "Oh, some sordid fellows would think of such things. I'm not going to marry her relations." "In some sort a man must," said Mrs Otway coolly. "Look here," cried the young officer, "why do you talk to me like this?" "Hullo! what's the matter?" cried Captain Otway, who had come up unobserved; "quarrelling?" "No," said Mrs Otway, "I am only giving Phil Eaton a little of the common-sense he seems to have been losing lately. Why do I talk to you like this, my dear Phil? I'll tell you. Because the day before we sailed Lady Eaton came to me and said, `You are a woman of experience, Mrs Otway; keep an eye upon my boy, and don't let him get entangled in any way.'" "My mother said that to you?" "Indeed she did; and now that you are running your head into a very pretty silken skein, and tangling yourself up in the most tremendous manner, I think it is time for me to act." "Quite right, Phil," said the Captain. "You wanted checking. The young lady is delicious, and all that is innocent and nice; but you are not content with a pleasant chat." "No," said the Lieutenant firmly; "I mean to marry her." "Indeed!" said Otway dryly. "Who and what is she?" "A lady of the greatest refinement and sweetness of character." "Granted; but who is her mother?" "Mrs Hallam, a lady whom, in spite of her sadness of disposition and distant ways, it is a privilege to know." "Will you go on, Bel?" said Otway. "No! Oh, Captain, you are talking grand sense! I'll listen." "Well, then, here is another question. Who is Mr Hallam?" "How should I know? Some merchant or official out at Port Jackson. They are going to join him. Julie--" "Hullo!" cried Mrs Otway, "has it come to that?" "Miss Hallam," continued the young officer, flushing, "told me she had not seen her father for years." Captain Otway turned to his wife, and she exchanged glances with him in a meaning way. Eaton looked sharply from one to the other, his eyes flashing, and his white teeth showing as he bit his lip. "What do you two mean?" he cried angrily. "Oh, nothing!" said Otway, shrugging his shoulders. "I insist upon knowing!" cried Eaton. "You would not look like that without deep cause; and it is not fair to me. Look here, I can't bear it! You are thinking something respecting these people; and it is not like my old friends. Hang it all, am I a boy?"