“I can paddle my own canoe; you are not my mouthpiece,” he replied angrily.

“Then would you have me tell him that I do not want Miss Lydia?”

“Tell him what you like, or keep silent if you like; all I’ve got to say is that if you are my friend you will not stand in my way.”

“It seems to me, Sergeant,” said I, “that you are forcing me into a very delicate position.  For me to go to Dr. Khayme and explain to him that my attachment to him is not a piece of hypocrisy played by me in order to win his daughter, would not be satisfactory to the Doctor or to me, or even to Miss Khayme.”

“Why not to her?” he asked abruptly.

“Because my explanation could not be made except upon my assumption that she supposes me a suitor; it would amount to my saying, ’I don’t want you,’ and more than that, as you can easily see.  I decline to put myself into such a position.  I prefer to assume that she does not regard me as a suitor, and that the Doctor receives me only as an old pupil.  I beg you to stay here until the Doctor comes, and talk to him yourself.  I can promise you one thing:  I shall not hinder you; I’ll give you a clear field.”

“Do you mean to say that you will give me a clear field with Miss Lydia?”

“Not exactly that, but very nearly.  You have no right to expect me to say to anybody that Miss Lydia does not attract me, and it would be silly, presumptuous, conceited in me to yield what I have not.  I can tell you this:  I have not spoken a word to Miss Lydia that I would not speak to any woman, or to any man for that matter, and I can say that I have not one degree of claim upon her.”

“Then you will keep out of my way?”

“I repeat that I am not in your way.  If I should say that I will keep out of your way, I would imply what is not true; the young lady is absolutely free so far as I am concerned.”

At this point the Doctor came up.  He shook hands with Willis and went into his tent.  I urged Willis to follow, but he would not.  I offered to lead the conversation into the matter in which he was so greatly interested, but he would not consent.

The Doctor reappeared.  “Lydia will be here to-night,” he said.

“You surprise me, Doctor.”

“Yes; but I am now pretty sure that we shall be here for a week to come, and we shall not move our camp before the rear division moves.  Lydia will find enough to do here.”

Willis soon took his leave.  I accompanied him for a short distance; on parting with him I told him that he might expect to see me again at night.

“What!” said he; “you are going to leave the Doctor?”

“Yes,” I replied; “expect me to-night.”

Willis looked puzzled; he did not know what to say, and said nothing.

When I entered the Doctor’s tent, I found him busily writing.  He looked up, then went on with his work.  Presently, still continuing to write, he said, “So Willis is angry.”