Though he would not say so, Kim of course disbelieved every word the drummer-boy spoke about the Liverpool suburb which was his England.  It passed the heavy time till dinner — a most unappetizing meal served to the boys and a few invalids in a corner of a barrack-room.  But that he had written to Mahbub Ali, Kim would have been almost depressed.  The indifference of native crowds he was used to; but this strong loneliness among white men preyed on him.  He was grateful when, in the course of the afternoon, a big soldier took him over to Father Victor, who lived in another wing across another dusty parade-ground.  The priest was reading an English letter written in purple ink.  He looked at Kim more curiously than ever.

‘An’ how do you like it, my son, as far as you’ve gone?  Not much, eh?  It must be hard — very hard on a wild animal.  Listen now.  I’ve an amazin’ epistle from your friend.’

’Where is he?  Is he well?  Oah!  If he knows to write me letters, it is all right.’

‘You’re fond of him then?’

‘Of course I am fond of him.  He was fond of me.’

‘It seems so by the look of this.  He can’t write English, can he?’

’Oah no.  Not that I know, but of course he found a letter-writer who can write English verree well, and so he wrote.  I do hope you understand.’

’That accounts for it.  D’you know anything about his money affairs?’ Kim’s face showed that he did not.

‘How can I tell?’

‘That’s what I’m askin’.  Now listen if you can make head or tail o’ this.  We’ll skip the first part ...  It’s written from Jagadhir Road ...  “Sitting on wayside in grave meditation, trusting to be favoured with your Honour’s applause of present step, which recommend your Honour to execute for Almighty God’s sake.  Education is greatest blessing if of best sorts.  Otherwise no earthly use.”  Faith, the old man’s hit the bull’s-eye that time!  “If your Honour condescending giving my boy best educations Xavier” (I suppose that’s St Xavier’s in Partibus) “in terms of our conversation dated in your tent 15th instant” (a business-like touch there!) “then Almighty God blessing your Honour’s succeedings to third an’ fourth generation and” — now listen! -"confide in your Honour’s humble servant for adequate remuneration per hoondi per annum three hundred rupees a year to one expensive education St Xavier, Lucknow, and allow small time to forward same per hoondi sent to any part of India as your Honour shall address yourself.  This servant of your Honour has presently no place to lay crown of his head, but going to Benares by train on account of persecution of old woman talking so much and unanxious residing Saharunpore in any domestic capacity.”  Now what in the world does that mean?’

’She has asked him to be her puro — her clergyman — at Saharunpore, I think.  He would not do that on account of his River.  She did talk.’