wing day,
introduced to the various officers of Hicks Pasha's staff; and, on
learning that he was married, the general asked him and his wife to
dinner, to make the acquaintance of Lady Hicks, and the wives of three
of his fellow officers.

At last, the time came for parting. Annie bore up well; and although,
when alone, she had many a cry, she was always cheerful, and went with
her husband and saw him off, at the station of the railway for
Ismailia, without breaking down badly.

Chapter 3: A Terrible Disaster.

It was an anxious time for his wife, after Gregory started. He, and
those with him, had left with a feeling of confidence that the
insurrection would speedily be put down. The garrison of Khartoum had
inflicted several severe defeats upon the Mahdi, but had also suffered
some reverses. This, however, was only to be expected, when the troops
under him were scarcely more disciplined than those of the Dervishes,
who had always been greatly superior in numbers, and inspired with a
fanatical belief in their prophet. But with British officers to
command, and British officers to drill and discipline the troops, there
could be no fear of a recurrence of these disasters.

Before they started, Mrs. Hilliard had become intimate with the wife of
Hicks Pasha, and those of the other married officers, and had paid
visits with them to the harems of high Turkish officials. Visits were
frequently exchanged, and what with these, and the care of the boy, her
time was constantly occupied. She received letters from Gregory, as
frequently as possible, after his arrival at Omdurman, and until he set
out with the main body, under the general, on the way to El Obeid.

Before starting, he said he hoped that, in another two months, the
campaign would be over, El Obeid recovered, and the Mahdi smashed up;
and that, as soon as they returned to Khartoum, Hicks Pasha would send
for his wife and daughters, and the other married officers for their
wives; and, of course, she would accompany them.

"I cannot say much for Omdurman," he wrote; "but Khartoum is a nice
place. Many of the houses there have shady gardens. Hicks has promised
to recommend me for a majority, in one of the Turkish regiments. In the
intervals of my own work, I have got up drill. I shall, of course, tell
him then what my real name is, so that I can be gazetted in it. It is
likely enough that, even after we defeat the Mahdi, this war may go on
for some time before