but that it would, with more or less trouble, be put down. And so things went on as usual, and the garden parties and the drives, and the friendly evening visiting continued just as before. It was at one of these pleasant evening gatherings that the first blow fell. Most of the officers of the station, their wives, and the two or three civilians were collected at Major Warrener's. The windows were all open. The girls were playing a duet on the piano; five or six other ladies were in the drawing-room, and about the same number of gentlemen were standing or sitting by them, some four or five were lounging in the veranda enjoying their cheroots; native servants in their white dresses moved noiselessly about with iced lemonade and wine, when a Sepoy came up the walk.
"What is it?" asked Major Warrener, who was one of the group in the veranda.
"Dispatch for the Colonel Sahib."
The colonel, who was sitting next to the major, held out his hand for the message, and was rising, when Major Warrener said:
"Don't move, colonel; boy, bring a candle."
The servant brought it; the colonel opened the envelope and glanced at the dispatch. He uttered an exclamation which was half a groan, half a cry.
"Good Heaven! what is the matter, colonel?"
"'The native troops at Meerut have mutinied, have murdered their officers and all the European men, women and children they could find, and are marching upon Delhi. Look after your regiment.'"
A low cry broke from the major. This was indeed awful news, and for a moment the two men sat half-stunned at the calamity, while the sound of music and merry talk came in through the open window like a mockery on their ears.
