This will be
news indeed for the poor women. And do you think he will be strong
enough to keep his pledge?"
"I think so; he asked me to wait until tomorrow afternoon before
going out with a flag of truce, and said that by that time he
would get the other Zemindars to stand by him, and would make terms
whether the Sepoys liked it or not."
"Well, you shall tell us all about it afterwards, Bathurst; let us
take the news in to them at once; it is long since they had good
tidings of any kind; it would be cruel to keep them in suspense,
even for five minutes."
There was no noisy outburst of joy when the news was told.
Three weeks before it would have been received with the liveliest
satisfaction, but now the bitterness of death was well nigh past;
half the children lay in their graves in the garden, scarce one of
the ladies but had lost husband or child, and while women murmured
"Thank God!" as they clasped their children to them, the tears
ran down as they thought how different it would have been had the
news come sooner. The men, although equally quiet, yet showed more
outward satisfaction than the women. Warm grasps of the hands were
exchanged by those who had fought side by side during these terrible
days, and a load seemed lifted at once off their shoulders.
Bathurst stayed but a moment in the room after this news was told,
but went in with Dr. Wade to the Major, and reported to him in full
the conversation that had taken place between himself and Por Sing.
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