Glyn Severns Schooldays | Page 9

gave him."
"Yes," said Singh, "and that diamond--hilted tulwar."
"Yes, that's a grand sword," cried Glyn, with his eyes sparkling. "I
should like to have that."
Singh laughed mockingly.
"Why, you are as bad as I am," he cried.
"That I am not! Why, if I had it, do you think I should buckle it on to go
and see a country wild-beast show?"
"Well, no, I don't suppose you would," said Singh quietly, as he gravely
replaced the emeralds in their receptacle and curled the belt around
them before shutting down the velvet-lined and quilted cover with a
loud snap. "But some day, when we have both grown older, and we are
back in India--I mean when I am at home in state and you are one of
my officers--you will have to get the Colonel to let you wear it then."
"Ah," said Glyn, slowly and thoughtfully, "some day; but that's a long
time off. I suppose I shall be a soldier like the dad is, and in your
army."
"Why, of course," cried Singh. "You will be my greatest general, just
the same as your father was when mine was alive. He was always a
great general there, though he was only colonel in the Company's army.
There, I suppose you are right. I like to look at that belt, but I won't
show it about; but I say, Glyn, I shall be glad when we get older and
have both begun learning to be--no, what do you call it?--not
learning--I mean, being taught to be soldiers."
"Training," said Glyn.
"Yes, training--that's it; and we shall go together to that place where
your father was, not far from London. You know--the place he used to

talk to us about, where he was trained before he came out to India."
"Addiscombe," said Glyn quietly, as he stood watching his companion
thrust the case back into the bottom of the portmanteau and rearrange
the garments he had moved, while his hand lingered for a few moments
about a soft white robe, which he covered over with a sigh before
closing the lid and turning the key of the great leather case.
"Yes," he said, "Addiscombe. What stories he used to tell us about the
young officers there! What did he call them? I forget."
"Cadets," said Glyn thoughtfully.
"That's it. I wish I didn't forget so many of those English words; but,"
continued the boy, "I liked it best when he told us about the battles out
at home, when all the chiefs around were fighting against my father the
Maharajah, so as to slay him and divide his possessions. You know, my
father has talked about it to me as well--how he was so nearly beaten
and weakened, and so many of his bravest officers killed, that it made
him apply to the great Company for help, and they sent your father. Oh,
what a brave man he was!"
"Who said that?" cried Glyn, flushing up.
"My father the Maharajah. He said so to me many times, and that he
was his best and truest friend. Oh yes, I used to like to hear about it all,
and he used to tell me that the Colonel would always be my truest
friend as well, and that I was to love him and obey him, and always
believe that what he told me to do was right. And I always do."
"Of course you do," said Glyn flushing. "Yes, Singh, he is some one to
be proud of, isn't he? But I am like you; I don't much like coming to this
school, though the Doctor is very nice and kind to us both."
"Yes, I like him better than the masters," said Singh; "but I don't like
the boys, and I don't think they like me."
"Oh, wait a bit," said Glyn. "It's because everything seems so different

to being in India; but, as father says, there is such a lot one ought to
learn, and we shall get used to it by-and-by; only, I say, you know what
the dad said?"
"You mean about trying to be an English gentle man and leaving the
maharajah till I get back home?"
"Yes, that's it," cried Glyn eagerly.
"Yes; but it's hard work, for everything is so different here, and the
boys are not like you."
"Oh yes, they are," cried Glyn merrily; "just the same. Here, come on;
let's go down and see whether Wrench has put up those forms by the
wall. We want to see the show."
"Yes," cried Singh. "It puts one in mind of Dour again, and I have been
thinking that we don't get on with the other boys through me."
"What do you mean with your `through me'?" said Glyn.
"Well, I don't quite