I have few young fellows under me of whom I
think more highly." And in spite of his terrible bereavement the
newly-promoted officer left his master's presence with a swelling
heart.
With him travelled home Matthew Blackett, whose release George, to his
delight, had managed, though with difficulty. The gallant Sergeant
Oborne had also been exchanged for an English prisoner in French
hands. An additional pleasure to both George and Matthew was an
intimation that Matthew, too, had been raised to the rank of major in
recognition of his excellent service throughout the war. As it proved,
neither officer ever served under Marlborough again.
The months flew by. Mr. Fairburn was found to have left a far larger
fortune than the world had dreamt of, the sum amounting to fully fifty
thousand pounds. George and his ageing mother were rich. Matthew
Blackett had taken to the management of the joint collieries, strange
to say, and was preparing to leave the army as soon as he could do so
conveniently. Major Fairburn, on the other hand, was first and last a
soldier, and he hoped some day to have further opportunities of rising
in his profession.
The Queen was in a very bad state of health; she might die any day.
But the Electress Sophia died first, and her son, Prince George of
Hanover, became the next heir to the throne, a prospect not much to
the liking of many in England.
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