Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

34* MILITARY LIFE.
I remained silent, and he went on :
" You really ought to go through a campaign
of at least five
years in India, in order to harden that small waxen heart of
yours, and accustom yourself
to the life of a
you know nothing yet, allow me to inform you."
soldier, of which
I still
kept silent, so he continued:
" All this impatience, this great need to attach yourself again
to the apron-strings, in fact, to return home, is any thing but
soldier-like."
I was still perfectly mute. A brief pause followed, and he
added, his voice growing almost imperceptibly sweeter :
" I have spoken to your colonel, and he has given you five
days' leave ;
you can go immediately."
I fell from the clouds ;
wished to express my gratitude, to
tell him that I was indebted to him for a great happiness, which
I should always remember ;
but he stopped me short in telling
me to start instantly ;
took his leave, and turned back at the
door once more to say :
" Be a soldier !
"
Then he went away. I gave a jump that nearly broke
through the " "
floor, and shouted :
Remigio
!
Remigio came.
" Pack my valise instantly." When he knew where I was
going he seemed happier than " I. What a delight for your
"
mother ! I can almost see her." Put in the image of
'
Santa Teresa,' the dried flowers, the box, and the cigars."
don't know
He looked at me in astonishment. "Ah, you
where they are ! Here
they are." And opening a small
casket that I always kept closed, I took and handed him
"
every thing. Did you save them " all ? exclaimed that good
soldier, clasping his hands in surprise and he
; continued, look-