' When the end was near and it was thought
best that Fleeming should no longer go home but sleep at
Merchiston, he broke his news to the Captain with some trepidation,
knowing that it carried sentence of death. 'Charming, charming -
charming arrangement,' was the Captain's only commentary. It was
the proper thing for a dying man, of Captain Jenkin's school of
manners, to make some expression of his spiritual state; nor did he
neglect the observance. With his usual abruptness, 'Fleeming,'
said he, 'I suppose you and I feel about all this as two Christian
gentlemen should.' A last pleasure was secured for him. He had
been waiting with painful interest for news of Gordon and Khartoum;
and by great good fortune, a false report reached him that the city
was relieved, and the men of Sussex (his old neighbours) had been
the first to enter. He sat up in bed and gave three cheers for the
Sussex regiment. The subsequent correction, if it came in time,
was prudently withheld from the dying man.
Pages:
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302