FROM DELHI TO UMBALA. 289 



the most wonderful escape, perhaps, from imminent 

 peril ever recorded. I take the first holiday I have 

 had since the 15th May to write a few lines to you, 

 my dearest sister, to say what deep and real pleasure 

 and comfort your letters bring to me, amidst danger 

 and toil and fatigue ; and how cheering it is to 

 feel that, come what may, I am sure of your loving 

 sympathy and constant afi'ection. I received yes- 

 terday your letter of the 4th May, and could not 

 but be most forcibly struck with the contrast be- 

 tween my circumstances individually and those of 

 the country then and now. No one will rejoice 

 more than yourself at the sudden change, and at 

 the tolerable success which has been permitted to 

 my labours." 



Only a fortnight after this happy reunion his 

 leave was cut short by an order to rejoin his regi- 

 ment on active service. 



"We march at once," he writes on the 15th, 

 " to join Sir Colin Campbell and the army assem- 

 bling at Cawnpore for the reconquest of Lucknow. 



" I am getting on famously with my regiment : 

 men of good family and fighting repute are really 

 flocking to my standard, and before the end of 

 the year I hope to have 1000 horsemen under my 

 command. 



" I had a letter the other day from at 



Calcutta, from which I learn that at last the truth 

 is beginning to dawn on the minds of men in 

 power regarding me. They now say that my re- 

 monstrance will be placed on record for preserva- 

 tion, ' not for justification, which is fully admitted 

 was not required,' and that ' no higher testimonials 

 were ever produced.' 



T 



