Glyn Severns Schooldays | Page 8

I have come to England to be educated; so why shouldn't I put on a belt like this on a grand day if I like?"
Glyn took the brilliant belt from his companion's hand and held it towards the light, inspecting curiously the beautiful gems, which were of a lustrous green marked with flaws.
"Ah," he said, "it looks nice, and is worth a lot of money I suppose."
"Of course," said the young Indian; and he added haughtily, "I shouldn't wear it if it were not."
"Well, you can't wear it," said Glyn, passing the embroidered leather through his hands and turning it over in the bright sunlight which came through the window.
"But why?" cried Singh, frowning slightly at having his will challenged.
"Well," said Glyn, "first of all, as I told you, because the boys would laugh at you."
"They dare not," cried the boy proudly.
"What!" cried Glyn laughing. "Why, English boys dare do anything. What did Slegge say this morning?"
"Slegge is what you call a blackguard," cried Singh angrily.
"Well, he isn't nice certainly," said Glyn; "but he'd begin at you again directly, and chaff, and say that you ought to ride on the elephant."
"Well," said the boy, "and that would be my place if there were a howdah. Of course I shouldn't ride on the great brute's neck."
"Yes, in India; but can't you recollect that you are still in England?"
"Of course I can," cried the boy, with flashing eyes; "but I can't forget that I am a prince."
"Now, look here," said Glyn, "what did dad say to you when the Doctor left us with him in the drawing-room? I mean before father went away. Have you forgotten?"
"Of course not. He said, `Never mind about being a prince. Be content with the rank of an English gentleman till you go back to your own country.' And that's what I am going to do."
"Well done," cried Glyn merrily. "Then, now, put this thing away; you don't want it. But stop a moment. I never had a close look at it before."
"No; the Colonel told me to keep it locked up and not to go showing it about so as to tempt some budmash to steal it."
"Well, we haven't got any budmashes in England," said Glyn merrily, as he began to inspect the emeralds again and took out his handkerchief to rub off a finger-mark or two and make the gems send off scintillations of sunlight which formed jack-o'-lanterns on the ceiling. "But we have plenty of blackguards who would like to get a chance to carry it off."
"What, among our schoolfellows?" cried Singh hastily.
"Bah! No! There, put it away. But I should like to know what that writing means."
"It's out of the Koran," said the boy as he took the jewelled belt back reverently and held it up to the light in turn. "It's very, very old, and means greatness to my family. It is a holy relic, and the Maharajahs of Dour have worn that in turn for hundreds of years."
"Well, you put it away," said Glyn; "and I wouldn't show it to anybody again, nor yet talk about it. I wonder the dad let you have it."
"Why?" said Singh proudly. "It is mine."
"Yes, of course; but it is not suited for a boy like you."
"A boy like me!" cried Singh half--angrily. "Why, I am as old as you."
"Well, I know that; but my father doesn't give me emeralds and diamonds to take with me to school. He could, though, if he liked, for he's got all those beautiful Indian jewels the Maharajah 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