"He was married, wasn't he, Major?"

"Yes, it was a sad business. It was only just after I joined. He
is three years senior to me in the regiment. He was appointed to
it a month or two after the Colonel joined. Well, as I say, a month
or two after I came to it, he went away on leave down to Calcutta,
where he was to meet a young lady who had been engaged to him before
he left home. They were married, and he brought her up country.
Before she had been with us a month we had one of those outbreaks
of cholera. It wasn't a very severe one. I think we only lost eight
or ten men, and no officer; but the Doctor's young wife was attacked,
and in three or four hours she was carried off. It regularly broke
him down. However, he got over it, as we all do, I suppose; and
now I think he is married to the regiment. He could have had staff
appointments a score of times, but he has always refused them.
His time is up next year, and he could go home on full pay, but I
don't suppose he will."

"And your niece arrives with him tomorrow, Major," the Adjutant
said.

"Yes, I am going to try petticoat government, Prothero. I don't
know how the experiment will succeed, but I am tired of an empty
bungalow, and I have been looking forward for some years to her
being old enough to come out and take charge. It is ten years since
I was home, and she was a little chit of eight years old at that
time."

"I think a vote of thanks ought to be passed to you, Major. We have