In a month's time, in spite of weakness, the Colonel had sufficiently
recovered to resume the command of his regiment, and Dick was the hero
and idol of the men.
But poor Mrs Corporal Beane was jealous and unhappy--jealous because
the Colonel made so much of Dick; unhappy on account of the Corporal,
whose recovery was very slow. But the Colonel, she owned, behaved very
well to her. He said that he would not interfere much, as he looked
upon herself as the boy's mother, but sooner or later they would find
out who Dick's parents were, and that he should stay with the regiment,
but he must be looked after well.
"As if he could be looked after better," Mrs Corporal said to her
invalid husband. "I do look after you well, Dick, don't I?"
"Yes, mother; of course you do," said the boy.
"And love you too; and you love me and father, don't you?"
"Why, you know I do," said the boy, laughing, "and Colonel Lavis sent
for the tailor this morning, and I was measured for a new uniform like
the men in the band."
"Bless us and save us!" cried Mrs Beane. "Well, that is handsome of
him, but like a drummer, Dick, not with gold lace?"
"Yes, scarlet and gold," said the little fellow proudly; "and I'm to
learn to play."
It would be a long story to tell of the terrible fights the 200th were
in all through that terrible Peninsular War: but Dick was with the
regiment and through it all, not fighting, but with the doctor and the
men whose duty it was to look after the wounded, and many were the
blessings called down upon the head of the brave boy, who seemed to bear
a charmed life, as he ran here and there with water to hold to the lips
of the poor fellows who were stricken down.
But all things have an end, the bad like the good, and in the days of
peace the 200th were being feasted at one of the towns by the Portuguese
gentry and some of the English merchants who had been nearly ruined by
the war.
Dick was in it all, for he was strong and well as could be--happy too as
a boy, but his memory was still a perfect blank about the past. He
could recall everything which had happened since he was nursed back to
health and strength, but nothing more; and poor Corporal Joe, who was
never likely to be able to join the ranks again, and only too grateful
at being allowed to act as the Colonel's servant, never mentioned to the
boy the day when he found him up at the burning house.
"Only set him thinking about them murdering camp-followers, missus, and
make him unhappy, and we don't want that, do us?"
"No, Joe, dear," she cried; "I should think we don't."
And so the time had nearly come for the remnant to march to the port and
embark for England, when a farewell party was given to the officers by a
Mr and Mrs Trevor, the principal merchant and his lady, and out of
compliment the Colonel and officers sent the band up to the mansion to
play in the garden during dinner, Dick being told that he might go with
the musicians to see the sight.
Everyone of note was there, and the sight was grand in the lit-up
grounds. There was feasting and speech-making and thanks given to the
brave men who had saved the country from the oppressor, and the Colonel
returned thanks.