"As we agreed, I have already sent in my resignation in the service,
and shall fight as a volunteer only. If we have to fight our way
into Lucknow, cavalry will be useless, and I shall apply to be
attached to one of the infantry regiments; having served before,
there will be no difficulty about that. I think there are sure to
be plenty of vacancies. Six months will assuredly see the backbone
of the rebellion altogether broken. No doubt it will take much longer
crushing it out altogether, for they will break up into scattered
bodies, and it may be a long work before these are all hunted down;
but when the strength of the rebellion is broken, I can leave with
honor."
There were but few preparations to be made for the wedding. Great
interest was felt in the fort in the event, for Isobel's rescue
from Bithoor and Cawnpore, when all others who had fallen into the
power of the Nana had perished, had been the one bright spot in the
gloom; and there would have been a general feeling of disappointment
had not the romance had the usual termination.
Isobel's presents were numerous and of a most useful character,
for they took the form of articles of clothing, and her trousseau
was a varied and extensive one.
The Doctor said to her the evening before the event, "You ought
to have a certificate from the authorities, Isobel, saying how you
came into possession of your wardrobe, otherwise when you get back
to England you will very soon come to be looked upon as a most
suspicious character.
Pages:
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522