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Often, since then, as I think of it, and recall it from the bygone, there I can see Mother Bantem though why we called her mother, I don't know, unless it was because she was like a mother to us with her great strapping form; and think of the way in which she Halt! Retire by fours from the left.
Mrs Bantem then went off to see to her patient, while I walked into the court, wondering what would come next, and whether, in spite of all the little bitternesses and grumbling, everybody, now some of the stern realities of life were coming upon us, would shew up the bright side of his or her nature and somehow I got very hopeful that they would.
Go, and make your arrangements for our defence." I don't think any one but me saw the look of love she gave him as she took sponge and lint from his hand, pressing it as she did so, and then her pale face lit up with a smile as she met his eyes; the next moment she was kneeling by the wounded trooper, and in a quiet firm way helping Mrs Bantem, in a manner that made her, poor woman, stare with astonishment.
"Measles' heart," says Mrs Bantem: "and I always knew it was in the right place." The next minute she gave Measles a slap on the back as echoed through the place, sending him staggering forward; but he only laughed and said: "Praise the saints, I ain't Bantem." There was a fine deal of excitement, though, now.
"I'll do that, with Private Manning's wife," says a voice; and turning as we were going to lift our dead comrade, there was big, strapping Mrs Bantem, and another soldier's wife, and she then said a few words to the captain. "Gone?" says Captain Dyer. "Quarter of an hour ago, sir," says Mrs Bantem; and then to me: "Poor trooper, Isaac!" "Another man here," says Captain Dyer. "No, not you, Smith.
"You'll get out of the trouble after all; and don't forget me." We promised him we would not, as well as we could, for we were both choked with sorrow; and then he said, talking quickly: "Give poor old Sam Measles my tobacco-box, Ike, the brass one, and shake hands with him for me; and now I want Mother Bantem."
Smith and I spike them, while Bantem and Grainger cut the cords. Mind this: those guns must be spiked, and those two prisoners brought in; and if the sortie is well managed, it is easy, for they will be taken by surprise. Hush! Confound it, men; no cheering." He only spoke in time, for in the excitement the men were about to hurray. "Now, then, is that gate unbarred?" "Yes, sir."
She used to pick up a good deal of information, though, and, taking a deal of interest as I did in Miss Ross, I got to know that it seemed to be quite a settled thing between her and Captain Dyer; and Bantem, who got took on now as Lieutenant Leigh's servant, used to tell his wife about how black those two were one towards the other.
Pearls stewed in sunshine, Harry Lant used to call it; and really to see the beautiful, glistening, white rice, every grain tender as tender, and yet dry and ready to roll away from the others none of your mesh-posh rice, if Mrs Bantem boiled it and then the rich golden curry itself: there, I've known that woman turn one of the toughest old native cocks into what you'd have sworn was a delicate young Dorking chick that is, so long as you didn't get hold of a drumstick, which perhaps would be a bit ropey.
For she had always seemed to like poor Harry's merry ways, when I never could get a smile from her; and she'd go and sit with Mrs Bantem for long enough when Harry was there, while if by chance I went, it seemed like the signal for her to get up, and say her young lady wanted her, when most likely Harry would walk back with her; and I went and told it all to my pipe.
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