hich would seem pleasanter to a young
man of your temperament and previous habits," said the Surgeon, kindly.
"Shift over into that arm-stool, which you will find easier, and rest a
little while. Julius, bring in that box of cigars."

While Julius, who resembled his illustrious namesake as little in
celerity of movement as he did in complexion, was coming, the Surgeon
prepared a paper, which he presented to Harry, saying:

"There, that'll keep you off duty to-morrow. After that, we'll see what
can be done."

Julius arrived with the cigars as tardily as if he had had to cross
a Rubicon in the back room. Two were lighted, and the Surgeon settled
himself for a chat.

"Have you become tired of soldier-life?" asked he, studying Harry's face
for the effect of the question.

"I can not say that I have become tired of it," said Harry, frankly,
"because I must admit that I never had the slightest inclination to it.
I had less fancy for becoming a soldier than for any other honorable
pursuit that you could mention."

"Then you only joined the army--"

"From a sense of duty merely," said Harry, knocking the ashes from his
cigar.

"And the physical and other discomforts now begin to weight nearly as
much as that sense of duty?"

"Not at all. It only seems to me that there are more of them than are
absolutely essential to the performance of that duty. I want to be of
service to the country, but I would prefer that that service be not made
unnecessarily onerous."

"Quite natural; quite natural."

"For example, how have the fatigues and pains of my afternoon's chopping
contributed a particle toward the suppression of the rebellion? What
have my blistered hands to do with the hurts of actual conflict?"

"Let us admit that the connection is somewhat obscure," said Doctor
Denslow, philosophically.

"It is easier for you, than for me, to view the matter calmly. Your
hands are unhurt. I am the galled jade whose withers are wrung."

"Body and spirit both bruised?" said the Surgeon, half reflectively.

Harry colored. "Yes," he said, rather defiantly. "In addition to
desiring to serve my country, I want to vindicate my manhood from some
aspersions which have been cast upon it."

"Quite a fair showing of motives. Better, perhaps, than usual, when
a careful weighing of the relative proportions of self-esteem,
self-interest and higher impulses is made."

"I am free to say that the discouragements I have met with are very
d