'So I made my plan av campaign. The Colonel's house was a good two
miles away. "Dennis," sez I to my colour-sargint, "av you love me lend
me your kyart, for me heart is bruk an' me feet is sore wid trampin'
to and from this foolishness at the Gaff." An' Dennis lent ut, wid a
rampin', stampin' red stallion in the shafts. Whin they was all settled
down to their _Sweethearts_ for the first scene, which was a long wan,
I slips outside and into the kyart. Mother av Hivin! but I made that
horse walk, an' we came into the Colonel's compound as the divil wint
through Athlone--in standin' leps. There was no one there excipt the
servints, an' I wint round to the back an' found the girl's ayah.

'"Ye black brazen Jezebel," sez I, "sellin' your masther's honour for
five rupees--pack up all the Miss Sahib's kit an' look slippy! _Capt'n
Sahib's_ order," sez I. "Going to the station we are," I sez, an' wid
that I laid my finger to my nose an' looked the schamin' sinner I was.

_'"Bote acchy,"_ says she; so I knew she was in the business, an' I
piled up all the sweet talk I'd iver learnt in the bazars on to this
she-bullock, an' prayed av her to put all the quick she knew into the
thing. While she packed, I stud outside an' sweated, for I was wanted
for to shif the second scene. I tell you, a young gurl's e-vasion manes
as much baggage as a rig'mint on the line av march! "Saints help
Dennis's springs," thinks I, as I bundled the stuff into the thrap,
"for I'll have no mercy!"

'"I'm comin' too," says the ayah.

'"No, you don't," sez I, "later--_pechy!_ You _baito_ where you are.
I'll _pechy_ come an' bring you _sart_, along with me, you
maraudin'"-niver mind fwhat I called her.