“I hope to see you again to-morrow, Doctor.”

“Very well, my boy; good-by till to-morrow; you will find me here by ten o’clock.”

When I reached the company I did not see Willis; he was off on duty somewhere.  On the next morning, however, he came in, and everything passed in the friendliest way possible, at first.  Evidently he was pleased with me for absenting myself from Lydia.  But he soon learned that I was to return to the Sanitary Camp, and his countenance changed at once.

“What am I to think of you?” he asked.

“I trust you will think well of me,” I replied; “I am doing you no wrong.  You are not well.  The Doctor noticed it.”

“He said that I was not well?”

“Yes.”

“Well, he is wrong for once; I am as well as I ever was in my life.”

“He said you left very suddenly yesterday.”

“I suppose I did leave suddenly; but I saw no reason to remain longer.”

“Willis,” said I, “let us talk seriously.  Why do you not speak to Miss Lydia and her father?  Why not end this matter one way or the other?”

“I haven’t seen Miss Lydia since you left us in February,” said he; “how can I speak to her?”

“But you can speak to Dr. Khayme.”

“Yes, I could speak to Dr. Khayme, but I don’t consider him the one to speak to first, and to tell you the truth I’m afraid of it.  It’s got to be done, but I feel that I have no chance; that’s what’s hurting me.”

“Then I’d have it over with, as soon as possible,” said I.

“That’s easier said than done; but I intend to have it over; it’s doing me no good.  I wish I’d never seen her.”

“Why don’t you write?”

“I’ve thought of that, but I concluded I wouldn’t.  It looked cowardly not to face the music.”

“My dear fellow,” said I, “there is no cowardice in it at all.  You ought to do it, or else bury the whole thing, and I don’t suppose you can do that.”

“No, I can’t do that; if I don’t see her shortly, I shall write.”

I was very glad to hear this.  From what he had just said, coupled with my knowledge of the Doctor and of Lydia, I did not think his chance worth a penny, and I felt certain that the best thing for him to do was to bring matters to a conclusion.  He would recover sooner.

At ten o’clock I was with Dr. Khayme.  He told me that Lydia had arrived in the night, and that he had just accompanied her to the hospital.

“And how is our friend Willis to-day?” he asked; “is he a little less out of sorts?”

“He is friendly to-day, Doctor.”

“Did you tell him that I remarked about his abrupt manner?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Very well.  I now I want to talk to you about your future work, Jones.  I have thought of your suggestion that you wear Confederate uniform, while scouting.”

“And you do not oppose it?”

“Decide for yourself.  I cannot conscientiously take part in war; all I can do is to endeavour to modify its evil, and try to turn it to good.”