human
Then you are under the yoke again, Bob?
gpt
Rayther, just a very few! The Brigadier has determined in his own mind that I am dead set upon presuming, so, to make it impossible, he snaps my head off every time he sees me, and at once.
human
Hard luck, old boy!
gpt
Oh, I share it with my betters. By the bye, is it true that the Governor-General has been powdering Sir Edmund's wig?
human
In a way. Antony wanted to promise Sher Singh his life if he would surrender, and the G.-G. came down upon him like a hundred of bricks. Told him that if he had put forth any such proclamation he would have to recall it, I believe, but happily things had not gone so far.
gpt
I'm sorry for Sir Edmund, but I back Blairgowrie--which is jolly handsome behaviour, since he has written some uncommon nasty things about me. 'Pon my word, Hal, I'm right glad that they refused us our siege-guns, and left us here tied by the leg for the hot weather.
human
But if we had been able to stamp out Sher Singh's rebellion--as we could have done if they had supported us properly--it would have saved this second Granthi War, Bob.
gpt
That's just it. We should have gone on trying to govern through the Durbar, and declaring that we were merely taking care of the country until Lena Singh comes of age, knowing that if he ever reigned alone it would mean the destruction of all we had done. But now the farce is at an end, and they must annex Granthistan. Our _ikbal_[1] stands fairly high, but it can't take the risk of a war bad enough to drag the C.-in-C. from his Olympian retirement every two or three years. I'm sorry for Sir Edmund, who has done his very best to bolster up the Durbar, but facts are too strong for him.
human
He will take it hard, said Gerrard.
gpt
Here is my camp, I see--my _campoo_,[2] I should say, as they were met by a cluster of salaaming Habshiabadis, who testified loudly their joy at his return.
human
But why shouldn't I report myself to the Brigadier at once, Bob, and then come back and settle in?
gpt
Because you ain't wanted, my boy. You don't go dropping in on your General in that promiscuous style. You wait till it's convenient to him to send for you, and then you apologize for your existence in the most abject terms at your command. I happen to know--friend at court, you see--that you'll be summoned about sunset, and if you behave very nicely, and answer prettily when you're spoken to, you may even be honoured by an invitation to dinner.
human
Learning one's place!
gpt
Exactly--as I have been doing. Our days of independent action are over, old boy. If we had been allowed to capture Agpur it might have been different, but I don't know. Who wouldn't go from governing kingdoms to take up regimental work again?