It passed the heavy time till dinner -- a most unappetizing meal served to the boys and a few invalids in a corner of a barrack-room . But that he had written to Mahbub Ali , Kim would have been almost depressed . The indifference of native crowds he was used to ; but this strong loneliness among white men preyed on him . He was grateful when , in the course of the afternoon , a big soldier took him over to Father Victor , who lived in another wing across another dusty parade-ground . The priest was reading an English letter written in purple ink . He looked at Kim more curiously than ever . ` An ' how do you like it , my son , as far as you 've gone ? Not much , eh ? It must be hard -- very hard on a wild animal . Listen now . I 've an amazin ' epistle from your friend . ' ` Where is he ? Is he well ? Oah ! If he knows to write me letters , it is all right . ' ` You 're fond of him then ? ' ` Of course I am fond of him . He was fond of me . ' ` It seems so by the look of this . He ca n't write English , can he ? '
` XXXXX no .
Ali English Kim Oah Victor afternoon amazin barrack-room epistle right