One afternoon he asked for his little gown-boy, and the child was brought
to him, and sate by the bed with a very awestricken face; and then
gathered courage, and tried to amuse him by telling him how it was a
half-holiday, and they were having a cricket-match with the St. Peter's
boys in the green, and Grey Friars was in and winning. The Colonel quite
understood about it; he would like to see the game; he had played many a
game on that green when he was a boy. He grew excited; Clive dismissed
his father's little friend, and put a sovereign into his hand; and away
he ran to say that Codd Colonel had come into a fortune, and to buy
tarts, and to see the match out. I, curre, little white-haired gown-boy!
Heaven speed you, little friend!
After the child had gone, Thomas Newcome began to wander more and more.
He talked louder; he gave the word of command, spoke Hindustanee as if to
his men. Then he spoke words in French rapidly, seizing a hand that was
near him and crying, "Toujours, toujours!" But it was Ethel's hand which
he took.
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