Papa Wick had been a Commissioner in his day, holding authority
over three millions of men in the Chota-Buldana Division,
building great works for the good of the land, and doing his best to
make two blades of grass grow where there was but one before. Of
course, nobody knew anything about this in the little English
village where he was just 'old Mr. Wick,' and had forgotten that he
was a Companion of the Order of the Star of India.
He patted Bobby on the shoulder and said: 'Well done, my boy!'
There followed, while the uniform was being prepared, an interval
of pure delight, during which Bobby took brevet-rank as a 'man' at
the women-swamped tennis-parties and tea-fights of the village,
and, I daresay, had his joining-time been extended, would have
fallen in love with several girls at once. Little country villages at
Home are very full of nice girls, because all the young men come
out to India to make their fortunes.
'India,' said Papa Wick, 'is the place. I've had thirty years of it and,
begad, I'd like to go back again. When you join the Tail Twisters
you'll be among friends, if every one hasn't forgotten Wick of
Chota-Buldana, and a lot of people will be kind to you for our
sakes. The mother will tell you more about outfit than I can; but
remember this. Stick to your Regiment, Bobby stick to your
Regiment.
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