Mrs. Haines was a woman of much common sense and presence of mind;
and, under the influence of Charlie's quiet chat, she speedily
recovered her tranquillity. Her daughter Ada, who was a very bright
and pretty girl, was even sooner at her ease, and they were laughing
and chatting brightly, when Mr. Haines arrived. He looked fagged and
dispirited.
"Drake is a fool," he said. "Just as, hitherto, he has scoffed at all
thought of danger, now he is prostrated at the news that danger is at
hand. He can decide on nothing. At one moment he talks of sending
messengers to Suraja Dowlah, to offer to pay any sum he may demand, in
order to induce him to retire; the next he talks of defending the fort
to the last. We can get him to give no orders, to decide on nothing,
and the other officials are equally impotent and imbecile."
On the 18th, the army of the nabob approached. Captain Minchin took
his guns and troops a considerable distance beyond the walls, and
opened fire upon the enemy. Charlie, enraged and disgusted at the
folly of conduct which could only lead to defeat, marched with them as
a simple volunteer.
The result was what he had anticipated. The enemy opened fire with an
immensely superior force of artillery.
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