berts and Tom Long were looked upon as heroes.
It so happened, that one day Colonel Hanson entered the mess-room, where
Captain Horton, Major Sandars, Captain Smithers, and the other officers,
were grouped about. Mr Linton and the ladies were present; and on one
side stood a group of soldiers, foremost among whom were Sergeant Lund
and Private Gray.
Major Sandars advanced to meet the governor's messenger, and he was
about to make some remark, when Colonel Hanson turned round, caught
sight of Private Gray, and started with astonishment.
The next moment he had gone forward to where Gray stood, looking very
stern and troubled, and caught him by the hands, dragging him forward,
and evidently forgetting all the stiff etiquette of the army.
"Why, my dear old Frank," he cried, shaking his hands, and seeming as if
he could hug him, "this is a surprise! this is a meeting! Why, where
have you been? Soldiering too, and wearing the scarlet! My dear old
Frank," he cried again, with his voice shaking with emotion, "I feel as
weak as a child; upon my word I do."
"Colonel Hanson," said Gray, quietly, but evidently very much moved, as
he saw that they were the centre of every gaze, "this is indeed a
strange meeting. I little thought it was you. But you forget; we
belong to different circles now."
"Forget? Different circles? Do we indeed?" cried Colonel Hanson, whose
face was flushed with excitement. "I forget nothing. Come here," he
cried, and dragging Gray's arm through his, he faced round to where the
astonished officers and the resident were standing.
"Major Sandars, Mr Linton, gentlemen, this is my very dear old friend,
Francis Murray. We were schoolfellows together at Eton, and--and--and--
I can't tell you now all the good brave things he has done for me. For
years he has been missing; that wretched Overend and Gurney smash broke
him, and he disappeared. And, Frank, you foolish fellow, I have been
searching for you high and low to tell you that that cantankerous old
lady, your aunt, was dead, and had changed her mind at the last moment,
quarrelled with that lot who had got hold of her, sent for her
solicitor, and left Greylands and every farthing she had to you. Thank
goodness I have found you at last. Now sign your application to buy out
at once. I will forward it home, and take upon myself to consider it
accepted, pending the official discharge."
While this was going on, Captain Smithers, whose hea
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