The Queens Cup | Page 8

next morning George came down in his Sunday clothes, carrying a
bundle. Few words were spoken at breakfast; when it was over he got
up and said:
"Well, goodbye, father and mother, and you boys. I never thought to
leave you like this, but things have gone against me, and I feel I shall
be best away.
"John, I look to you to fill my place.
"Good-bye all," and with a silent shake of the hand he took up his
bundle and stick and went out, leaving his brothers, who had not been
told of his intentions, speechless with astonishment.
Chapter 2.
Frank Mallet, after he had visited all his tenants, drove to Sir John
Greendale's.

"We have got the route," he said, as he entered; "and I leave this
evening. I had a note from the Adjutant this morning saying that will be
soon enough, so you see I have time to come over and say goodbye
comfortably."
"I do not think goodbyes are ever comfortable," Lady Greendale said.
"One may get through some more comfortably than others, but that is
all that can be said for the best of them."
"I call them hateful," Bertha put in. "Downright hateful, Captain
Mallett--especially when anyone is going away to fight."
"They are not pleasant, I admit," Frank Mallett agreed; "and I ought to
have said as comfortably as may be. I think perhaps those who go feel
it less than those who stay. They are excited about their going; they
have lots to think about and to do; and the idea that they may not come
back again scarcely occurs to them at the time, although they would
admit its possibility or even its probability if questioned.
"However, I fancy the worst of the fighting will be over by the time we
get there. It seems almost certain that it will be so, if Delhi is captured
and Lucknow relieved. The Sepoys thought that they had the game
entirely in their hands, and that they would sweep us right out of India
almost without resistance. They have failed, and when they see that
every day their chances of success diminish, their resistance will grow
fainter.
"I expect that we shall have many long marches, a great many
skirmishes, and perhaps two or three hard fights; but I have not a
shadow of fear of a single reverse. We are going out at the best time of
year, and with cool weather and hard exercise there will be little danger
of fevers; therefore the chances are very strongly in favour of my
returning safe and sound. It may take a couple of years to stamp it all
out, but at the end of that time I hope to return here for good.
"I shall find you a good deal more altered, Miss Greendale, than you
will find me. You will have become a dignified young lady. I shall be
only a little older and a little browner. You see, I have never been

stationed in India since I joined, for the regiment had only just come
home, and I am looking forward with pleasurable anticipation to seeing
it. Ordinary life there in a hot cantonment must be pretty dull, though,
from what I hear, people enjoy it much more than you would think
possible. But at a time like the present it will be full of interest and
excitement."
"You will write to us sometimes, I hope," Sir John said, when Mallett
rose to leave.
"I won't promise to write often, Sir John. I expect that we shall be
generally on the move, perhaps without tents of any kind, and to write
on one's knee, seated round a bivouac fire, with a dozen fellows all
laughing and talking round, would be a hopeless task; but if at any time
we are halted at a place where writing is possible, I will certainly do so.
I have but few friends in England--at any rate, only men, who never
think of expecting a letter. And as you are among my very oldest and
dearest friends, it will be a pleasure for me to let you know how I am
getting on, and to be sure that you will feel an interest in my doings."
There was a warm goodbye, and all went to the door for a few last
words. Frank's portmanteau was already in the dog cart, for he had
arranged to drive straight from Greendale to Chippenham, where he
would dine at an hotel and then go on by the mail to Exeter.
It was three o'clock when he drove into the barracks there. Early as the
hour was, the troops were already up and busy. Wagons were being
loaded, the long lines of windows were all lighted up, and in every
room