"I think I have seen you at Mahdoo Rao's court." "I have seen your excellency there," Harry replied, in the same language.
Then, seeing that the Resident spoke the language with difficulty, he went on, in English: "It is a matter chiefly personal to myself." The Resident looked at him in surprise, for it was the first time he had heard a Mahratta speaking English.
"I am the son of Major Lindsay who, with his wife and escort, was murdered by a party of Mahrattas, seventeen years ago, at the time when the English army was advancing against Poona.

I was saved by the fidelity of an ayah, who had been in the family for ten years.
A cousin of hers was, fortunately, one of the leaders of the party who attacked the camp and, with his connivance, she carried me off and made her way back to her family, near Jooneer.

She stained my skin, as you see, and allowed it to be supposed that she had married in Bombay, and that I was her own child.
"She has brought me up with the intention of my rejoining my countrymen, as soon as I became a man; for she did not see how, until then, I could earn my living among strangers.

She taught me as much as she knew of the language and religion of the English and, when I was twelve, took me down to Bombay and left me, for some two years and a half, in the house of Mrs.Sankey, a lady who taught some of the children of officers there.

When I left Bombay I was able to speak English as well as other English boys of my age.
"My nurse had, from the earliest time I can remember, encouraged me in taking part in all sports and games; and when I was but eight a soldier, a cousin of hers, began to teach me my first exercise in arms.