'You mean he does what you tell him to do? Morris asked drily.
'Learning his trade, sir, learning his trade, just like a good little ensign should. Unlike some as I could mention.
Morris ignored the sly reference to Fitzgerald and instead dipped his quill in ink and scrawled his name at the foot of the rosters. 'I assume Ensign Fitzgerald and Sergeant Green have been assigned all the night duty? he asked.
'They needs the practice, sir.
'And you need your sleep, Sergeant?
'Punishment book, sir, Hakeswill said, offering the leather-bound ledger and taking back the guard roster without acknowledging Morris's last comment.
Morris leafed through the book. 'No floggings this week?
'Will be soon, sir, will be soon.
'Private Sharpe escaped you today, eh? Morris laughed. 'Losing your touch, Obadiah. There was no friendliness in his use of the Christian name, just scorn, but Sergeant Hakeswill took no offence. Officers were officers, at least those above ensigns were proper officers in Hakeswill's opinion, and such gentlemen had every right to be scornful of lesser ranks.
'I ain't losing nothing, sir, Hakeswill answered equably. 'If the rat don't die first shake, sir, then you puts the dog in again. That's how it's done, sir. Says so in the scriptures. Sick report, sir. Nothing new, except that Sears has the fever, so he won't be with us long, but he won't be no loss, sir. No good to man or beast, Private Sears. Better off dead, he is.
'Are we done? Morris asked when he had signed the sick report, but then a tactful cough sounded at the tent's opening and Lieutenant Lawford ducked under the flap and pushed through the muslin screen.
'Busy, Charles? Lawford asked Morris.
'Always pleased to see you, William, Morris said sarcastically, 'but I was about to go for a stroll.
'There's a soldier to see you, Lawford explained. 'Man's got a request, sir.
Morris sighed as though he was too busy to be bothered with such trifles, but then he shrugged and waved a hand as if to suggest he was making a great and generous gesture by giving the man a moment of his precious time. 'Who? he asked.
'Private Sharpe, sir.
'Troublemaker, sir, Hakeswill put in.
'He's a good man, Lawford insisted hotly, but then decided his small experience of the army hardly qualified him to make such judgements and so, diffidendy, he added that it was only his opinion. 'But he seems like a good man, sir, he finished.
'Let him in, Morris said. He sipped from a tin mug of arrack while Sharpe negotiated the muslin screen and then stood to attention beneath the ridge pole. 'Hat off, boy! Hakeswill snapped. 'Don't you know to take your hat off in the presence of an officer?
Sharpe snatched off his shako.
'Well? Morris asked.
For a second it seemed that Sharpe did not know what to say, but then he cleared his diroat and, staring at the tent wall a few inches above Captain Morris's head, he at last found his voice. 'Permission to marry, sir.
Morris grinned. 'Marry! Found yourself a bibbi, have you? He sipped more arrack, then looked at Hakeswill. 'How many wives are on the company strengdi now, Sergeant?
'Full complement, sir! No room for more, sir! Full up, sir. Not a vacancy to be had. Shall I dismiss Private Sharpe, sir?
'This girl's on the complement, Lieutenant Lawford intervened. 'She's Sergeant Bickerstaff's widow.
Morris stared up at Sharpe. 'Bickerstaff, he said vaguely as though the name was strange to him. 'Bickerstaff. Fellow who died of a fever on the march, is that right?
'Yes, sir, Hakeswill answered.
'Didn't know the man was even married, Morris said. 'Official wife, was she?
'Very official, sir, Hakeswill answered. 'On the company strength, sir. Colonel's signature on the certificate, sir. Proper married before God and the army, sir.
Morris sniffed and looked up at Sharpe again. 'Why on earth do you want to marry, Sharpe?
Sharpe looked embarrassed. 'Just do, sir, he said lamely.
'Can't say I disapprove of marriage, Morris said. 'Steadies a man does marriage, but a fellow like you, Sharpe, can do better than a soldier's widow, can't you? Dreadful creatures, soldiers' widows! Used goods, Private. Fat and greasy, like lumps of lard wrapped up in linen. Get yourself a sweet litde bibbi, man, something that ain't yet run to seed.'
'Very good advice, sir, Hakeswill said, his face twitching. 'Words of wisdom, sir. Shall I dismiss him, sir?
'Mary Bickerstaff is a good woman, sir, Lieutenant Lawford said. The Lieutenant, whom Sharpe had first approached with his request, was eager to do his best. 'Sharpe could do a lot worse than marry Mary Bickerstaff, sir.
Morris cut a cigar and lit it from the guttering candle that burned on his camp table. 'White, is she? he asked negligently.
'Half bibbi and half Christian, sir, Hakeswill said, 'but she had a good man for her husband. He sniffed, pretending that he was suddenly overcome with emotion. 'And Jem Bickerstaff ain't this month in his grave, sir. Too soon for the trollop to marry again. It ain't right, sir. Says so in the scriptures.
Morris offered Hakeswill a cynical glance. 'Don't be absurd, Sergeant. Most army widows marry the next day! The ranks are hardly high society, you know.
'But Jem Bickerstaff was a friend of mine, sir, Hakeswill said, sniffing again and even cuffing at an invisible tear. 'Friend of mine, sir, he repeated more hoarsely, 'and on his dying bed, sir, he begged me to look after his little wife, sir. I know she ain't through and through white, he told me, but she deserves to be looked after. His very dying words, sir.
'He bloody hated you! Sharpe could not resist the words.
'Quiet in front of an officer! Hakeswill shouted. 'Speak when you're spoken to, boy, and otherwise keep your filthy mouth buttoned like God wanted it.
Morris frowned as though Hakeswill's loud voice was giving him a headache. Then he looked up at Sharpe. 'I'll talk to Major Shee about it, Sharpe. If the woman is on the strength and wants to marry you, then I don't suppose we can stop her. I'll talk to the Major. You're dismissed.
Sharpe hesitated, wondering whether he should thank the Captain for the laconic words, but before he could say any thing, Hakeswill was bawling in his ear. 'About turn! Smartly now! Hat on! Quick march! One two one two, smartly now. Mind the bleeding curtain, boy! This ain't a pig sty like what you grew up in, but an officer's quarters!
Morris waited till Sharpe was gone, then looked up at Lawford. 'Nothing more, Lieutenant?
Lawford guessed that he too was dismissed. 'You will talk to Major Shee, Charles? he pressed Morris.
'I just said so, didn't I? Morris glared up at the Lieutenant.
Lawford hesitated, then nodded. 'Good night, sir, he said and ducked under the muslin screen.
Morris waited until he was certain that both men were out of earshot. 'Now what do we do? he asked Hakeswill.
'Tell the silly bugger that Major Shee refused permission, sir.
'And Willie Lawford will talk to the Major and find that he didn't. Or else he'll go straight to Wellesley. Lawford's uncle is on the staff, or had you forgotten that? Use your wits, man! Morris slapped at a moth that had managed to slip through the screen. 'What do we do? he asked again.
Hakeswill sat on a stool opposite the camp table. He scratched his head, glanced into the night, then looked back to Morris. 'He's a sharp one, Sharpie, he is. Slippery. But I'll do him. He paused. 'Of course, sir, if you helped, it'd be quicker. Much quicker.
Morris looked dubious. 'The girl will only find herself another protector, he said. 'I think you're wasting my time, Sergeant.
'What me, sir? No, sir. Not at all, sir. I'll have the girl, sir, just you watch, and Nasty Naig says you can have
