It was an anxious time for his wife, after Gregory started.

He, and those with him, had left with a feeling of confidence that the insurrection would speedily be put down.

The garrison of Khartoum had inflicted several severe defeats upon the Mahdi, but had also suffered some reverses.

This, however, was only to be expected, when the troops under him were scarcely more disciplined than those of the Dervishes, who had always been greatly superior in numbers, and inspired with a fanatical belief in their prophet.

But with British officers to command, and British officers to drill and discipline the troops, there could be no fear of a recurrence of these disasters.
Before they started, Mrs.Hilliard had become intimate with the wife of Hicks Pasha, and those of the other married officers, and had paid visits with them to the harems of high Turkish officials.