A native army had been raised there, under the command of British officers, and these had checked the northern progress of the Mahdists and restored confidence in Egypt.

Gregory--for the boy had been named after his father--grew up strong and hearty.

His mother devoted her evenings to his education.
From the Negress, who was his nurse and the general servant of the house, he had learnt to talk her native language.

She had been carried off, when ten years old, by a slave-raiding party, and sold to an Egyptian trader at Khartoum; been given by him to an Atbara chief, with whom he had dealings; and, five years later, had been captured in a tribal war by the Jaalin.

Two or three times she had changed masters, and finally had been purchased by an Egyptian officer, and brought down by him to Cairo.