As he was very pertinacious, George gave him the required promise, solely for the sake of peace. Early in June he went up for his examination, and, whilst he awaited the result in miserable suspense, he received a letter from his uncle Godfrey, who, through the family lawyer, had recently discovered the state of his money affairs. After upbraiding him angrily for keeping the matter from him, and for allowing himself to be stripped to his last shilling in order to support Major Malone’s family, he went on to say that he would make him an allowance of five hundred a year, in order that he might live like a gentleman, and as became his heir, and if he would only come home, and settle down, and marry some nice girl, he would do a great deal more for him. “And if I settle down, and marry a nice girl out here, I wonder what he will say to that?” said his nephew to himself, as he tried to realise his unexpected good fortune. He did not spend much time in reflection, but galloped over to the Colonel’s bungalow, and asked that amazed officer “if there was any chance of his getting three months’ leave to England, and to start at once.” “Not the smallest,” returned the Colonel firmly, adding a complaint that he made at least ten times a day--“I have only four subalterns. You know I am terribly short of officers--Indeed, Holroyd, I wonder that a man of your sense could be such a fool as to propose such a thing!” The same mail that brought Mr. Godfrey Holroyd’s letter brought the news that Colonel and Mrs. Calvert were coming out in September. Colonel Calvert was the District Inspector of Police for Mangobad. What a chance for Betty! She might travel with _them_. He lost no time in writing, and despatching three letters by the out-going mail, one to the Calverts, and two to Noone, and anxiously awaited Betty’s telegram. In due time the answer arrived, and by a strange coincidence, the same day’s post brought the agreeable intimation that he had passed the Higher Standard in Hindustani. Surely a lucky omen, if omens stand for aught. He gave a dinner at the mess to celebrate the event with his brother officers. (Also _another_ event of which they were as yet in ignorance.) Fortune, who had turned her back on him for so long, was now apparently all smiles, and seemed to be thrusting her favours on him with both hands. END OF VOL. II. PRINTED BY KELLY & CO., MIDDLE MILL, KINGSTON-ON-THAMES; AND GATE STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS, W.C. Transcriber’s Notes Page 131: “Holyroyd is only” changed to “Holroyd is only” Page 159: “once you have have” changed to “once you have”