"I am a little shaky, sir, but the voyage has done wonders for me. I have no doubt that I shall soon be myself, again."
"You have not seen the last gazette, I suppose?"
"No, sir."
"Well, there was a list of promotions, and I am happy to say that you have got the D.S.O. for your services. I dare say you know that you succeeded to your company, just six months ago?"
"No, I did not know that. I knew that I stood high among the lieutenants, and expected to get it before long; but I am proud, indeed, of the D.S.O."
"To have won the V.C. and the D.S.O. is to attain the two greatest distinctions a soldier can wear.
"Now, you had better come down with me to my place in the country; the air of London is not the best, for a man who has been suffering from African fever."
"I certainly want bracing air, and I shall be only too glad to go home with you; for I feel it is more my home than any other in England."
As soon as Lisle began to recover a little, Colonel Houghton introduced him to his neighbours, who made a good deal of the young soldier. Five years had elapsed, since he had started with the Pioneers for Chitral, and he was twenty-one.
Soon after he went to the colonel's, he was speaking to him of his friend and constant companion in the late campaign; and the colonel at once invited Hallett down. Hallett accepted the invitation, and soon joined them. He had pretty well recovered, and the campaign had knocked all his little laziness and selfishness out of him. He also had received the D.S.O.