It would be a terrible time for everyone in India if they did take
it into their heads to rise."
"I can't believe they would be mad enough to do that, Doctor;
they have everything to lose by it, and nothing to gain, that is,
individually; and we should be sure to win in the long run, even
if we had to conquer back India foot by foot."
"That is all very well, Bathurst; we may know that we could do it,
but they don't know it. They are ignorant altogether of the forces
we could put into the field were there a necessity to make the
effort. They naturally suppose that we can have but a few soldiers,
for in all the battles we have fought there have always been two
or three Sepoy regiments to one English. Besides, they consider
themselves fully a match for us. They have fought by us side by side
in every battlefield in India, and have done as well as we have. I
don't see what they should rise for. I don't even see whose interest
it is to bring a rising about, but I do know that if they rise we
shall have a terrible time of it. Now I think we may as well turn
in. You won't take another peg? Well, I shall see you in the morning.
I shall be at the hospital by half past six, and shall be in at
half past eight to breakfast. You have only got to shout for my
man, and tell him whether you will have tea, coffee, or chocolate,
any time you wake."
"I shall be about by six, Doctor; five is my general hour, but as
it is past one now I dare say I shall be able to sleep on for an
hour later, especially as there is nothing to do.
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