Mrs. Harris
for my staying, and Miss Betty for my going, at last delivered his own
Sentiments. As for Amelia, she sat silent, drown'd in her Tears; nor was I
myself in a much better Situation.
    As the Commissions are not signed, said the Doctor, I think you may be said
to remain in your former Regiment; and therefore I think you ought to go on this
Expedition; your Duty to your King and Country, whose Bread you have eaten,
requires it; and this is a Duty of too high a Nature to admit the least
Deficiency. Regard to your Character likewise requires you to go: For the World,
which might justly blame your staying at home if the Case was even fairly
stated, will not deal so honestly by you: You must expect to have every
Circumstance against you heightened, and most of what makes for your Defence
omitted; and thus you will be stigmatiz'd as a Coward, without any Palliation.
As the malicious Disposition of Mankind is too well known, and the cruel
Pleasure which they take in destroying the Reputations of others; the Use we are
to make of this Knowledge is to afford no Handle to Reproach: For bad as the
World is, it seldom falls on any Man who hath not given some slight Cause for
Censure, tho' this, perhaps, is often aggravated Ten thousand Fold; and when we
blame the Malice of the Aggravation, we ought not to forget our own Imprudence
in giving the Occasion. Remember, my Boy, your Honour is at stake; and you know
how nice the Honour of a Soldier is in these Cases. This is a Treasure, which he
must be your Enemy indeed who would attempt to rob you of. Therefore you ought
to consider every one as your Enemy, who by desiring you to stay would rob you
of your Honour.
    Do you hear that, Sister? cries Miss Betty. - Yes, I do hear it, answered
Amelia, with more Spirit than I ever saw her exert before, and would preserve
his Honour at the Expence of my Life. I will preserve it, if it should be at
that Expence; and since it is Dr. Harrison's Opinion that he ought to go, I give
my Consent. Go, my dear Husband, cry'd she, falling upon her Knees, may every
Angel of Heaven guard and preserve you. - I cannot repeat her Words without
being affected,« said he, wiping his Eyes, »the Excellence of that Woman, no
Words can paint; Miss Mathews, she