Soldiers Three - Part 2 by Rudyard Kipling
page 92 of 246 (37%)
page 92 of 246 (37%)
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gap in the mess-table, that an officer of the regiment had
resigned his new-found commission. And Dirkovitch, bland, supple, and always genial, went away too by a night train. Little Mildred and another man saw him off, for he was the guest of the mess, and even had he smitten the colonel with the open hand, the law of that mess allowed no relaxation of hospitality. "Good-bye, Dirkovitch, and a pleasant journey," said little Mildred. "Au revoir," said the Russian. "Indeed! But we thought you were going home?" "Yes, but I will come again. My dear friends, is that road shut?" He pointed to where the North Star burned over the Khyber Pass. "By Jove! I forgot. Of course. Happy to meet you, old man, any time you like. Got everything you want? Cheroots, ice, bedding? That's all right. Well, au revoir, Dirkovitch." "Um," said the other man, as the tail-lights of the train grew small. "Of - all - the - unmitigated!" Little Mildred answered nothing, but watched the North Star and hummed a selection from recent Simla burlesque that had much delighted the White Hussars. It ran - |
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