The public prints had made all interested therein, aware that Leslie Colville and another, described variously as Taimar of the Guide Corps, and Corporal Wodrow of the 10th Hussars, had escaped the massacre and were safe.
Colville safe and living still! What an awful burden was now doubly lifted from the heart of Mary—a heart too full for words.
It was natural for her to have hope at her years; but the tidings of the slaughter at the Residency seemed to crush all hope for ever.
A telegram first came from Colville, and ere long there was actually a letter from Robert Wodrow.
'Forgive me, beloved Ellinor, as I have forgiven and forgotten a portion of our past,' he wrote, gently and humbly. 'Because that fellow Sleath was a rascal, you do not mean to go through life "a maiden all forlorn." And so you still stick to me alone, in spite of what people may say—a poor corporal of Hussars as yet. When I think of you sought after, admired, and doubtless loved by dozens of fellows, better a thousand degrees than luckless Bob Wodrow; I can but trust to your heart holding the memory of me against them all—for a memory it may be, Ellinor, as I am not out of this perilous Afghanistan yet—and a year ago I never thought to be here.
"The poison is yet in my brain, love,
The thorn in my flesh, for you know
'Twas only a year ago, love,
'Twas only a year ago."
And Ellinor wept as she read the words his hands had traced.
A few more references to history.
A clasp for Charasiah was ordered to be worn with the war medal, but ere he saw Ellinor, Robert Wodrow had yet to win the bronze star awarded to all who shared in Roberts's famous march to Candahar.
'After all the peril faced and glory won, are we to give up Candahar—after all?' was the ever-recurring question among the soldiers of our army, as they marched back to India, and felt that, though Roberts had restored our prestige, all the honour gained in battle would be lost if we failed to retain Candahar.