alk for two or three hours,
so that you can get accustomed to them. I should not like you to
look awkward, when you go with me to Mrs. Sankey's, tomorrow."

The interview next day was altogether satisfactory. The carriage
and bearing of the natives of India is easier, and more graceful,
than that of Europeans; and the knowledge Harry had possessed, for
some years, that he belonged to a conquering race, the injunctions
of Soyera, his strength and activity, and his unquestioned
leadership among the boys with whom he played, had given something
of confidence to his manner. Mrs. Sankey was greatly taken with
him, and he at once became an inmate of her house.

He remained there for two years, and became so great a favourite
that Mrs. Sankey insisted on his staying with her, without charge,
for three or four months after the time for which she had received
payment for him. He had worked hard and earnestly, and now spoke
English as well and accurately as any English boy of his own age.
He had, after being there a year, made the acquaintance of several
boys of his own age, the sons of officers or officials. They knew
him only as the orphan son of an English gentleman, in Government
employ; and he was often asked to the houses of their parents, and
none suspected that he had been brought up among natives.

At the end of his term, Sufder came down for him. Jeemajee, who had
remained his steady friend, arranged that he should go to his
house, and there resume his native dress and stain. In this garb he
felt even stranger and more uncomfortable than he had done, when he
first put on European clothes; but this was not long in wearing off
and, by the time he reached Jooneer, he was again at home in it. He
took with him, at Mrs. Sankey's suggestion, a number of English
books, by authors she recommended; so that he could, by reading and
learning some of them by heart, retain his knowledge of the
language.

For the next three months he spent his whole time in practising
with sword, pistol, and gun; under the tuition of an old soldier in
Jooneer, who had been a noted swordsman in his time. He was already
far stronger than the sons of Ramdass, although these were now
young men. Anxious to, at once, exercise his muscles and gain in
skill, he now attached himself to a famous shikaree who, seeing the
boy's strength and courage, took him as an assistant when he went
on excursions among the hills. Here Harry learned to dig pits for
the c