PapaWickhadbeenaCommissionerinhisday,holdingauthorityoverthreemillionsofmenintheChota-BuldanaDivision,buildinggreatworksforthegoodoftheland,anddoinghisbesttomaketwobladesofgrassgrowwheretherewasbutonebefore。
Ofcourse,nobodyknewanythingaboutthisinthelittleEnglishvillagewherehewasjust’oldMrWick“andhadforgottenthathewasaCompanionoftheOrderoftheStarofIndia。
HepattedBobbyontheshoulderandsaid:“Welldone,myboy!”
Therefollowed,whiletheuniformwasbeingprepared,anintervalofpuredelight,duringwhichBobbytookbrevet-rankasa“man“atthewomen~swampedtennis-partiesandtea-fightsofthevillage,and,Idaresay,hadhisjoiningtimebeenextended,wouldhavefalleninlovewithseveralgirlsatonceLittlecountryvillagesatHomeareveryfullofnicegirls,becausealltheyoungmencomeouttoIndiatomaketheirfortunes。
“India。”saidPapaWick,“istheplaceI’vehadthirtyyearsofitand,begad,I’dliketogobackagainWhenyoujoi~ntheTailTwistersyou’lheamongfriends,ifeveryonehasn’tforgottenWickofChota-Buldana,andalotofpeoplewillbekindtoyouforoursakesThemotherwilltellyoumoreaboutoutfitthanIcan,butrememberthisSticktoyourRegiment,Bohhy~sticktoyourRegimentYou’llseemenallroundyougoingintotheStaffCorps,anddoingeverypossiblesortofdutybutregimental,andyoumaybetemptedtofollowsuitNowsolongasyoukeepwithinyourallowance,andIhaven’tstintedyouthere,sticktotheLine,thewholeLineandnothingbuttheLineBecarefulhowyoubackanotheryoungfool’sbill,andifyoufallinlovewithawomantwentyyearsolderthanyourself,don’ttellmeaboutit,that’sall。”