As to his own exploits, he was ingeniously silent; but she
knew them already. A military expedition against two revolted and
slave-raiding emirs, holding strong positions on the great river; a few
officers borrowed from home to stiffen a local militia; hot fighting
against great odds; half a million of men released from a reign of
hell; tyranny broken, and the British _pax_ extended over regions a
third as large as India--smiling prosperity within its pale, bestial
devastation and cruelty without--these things she knew, or had been able
to imagine from the newspapers. According to him, it had been all the
doing of other men. She knew better; but soon found it of no use to
interrupt him.
Meanwhile she dared not ask him why he had come home. The campaign,
indeed, was over; but he had been offered, it appeared, an
administrative appointment.
"And you mean to go back?"
"Perhaps." He colored and looked restlessly out of the window.
Mrs. Colwood understood the look, and felt it was, indeed, hard upon
him that he must put up with her so long. In reality, he too was
conscious of new pleasure in an old acquaintance. He had forgotten
what a dear little thing she was: how prettily round-faced, yet
delicate--ethereal--in all her proportions, with the kindest eyes.
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