s
working them one against another. But there, you didn't come here to
chatter politics. What is it? You have got something more to say to
me, haven't you?"

"Well--er--yes, sir," hesitated the lad.

"Out with it, boy. Never play with your medical man. No
half-confidences. I can pretty well read you, Archie, so out with it
frankly."

"Well, sir, I did half make up my mind to speak to you, and came this
morning on purpose; and then as soon as I saw you I felt that it was
foolish--a sort of fancy of mine."

"Well, go on; let me judge. You have got something the matter with
you?"

"That's what I don't quite know, sir," said the young man, who was now
scarlet.

"Well, don't shilly-shally. Let me judge. Is it some bodily ailment?"

"No, sir."

"Glad of it. What is it, then? It can't be money."

"Oh no, sir."

"Of course not. No temptations here to spend. Then you have got into
some big scrape?"

"I am always getting into scrapes, sir."

"Yes; and the Major had you up to give you a wigging, as you call it,
only yesterday."

"How did you know that, sir?" cried the lad excitedly.

"The Doctor knows pretty well everything about people, and what he
doesn't know for himself his women find out for him. Now then, what is
it?"

"I am afraid you will laugh at me, sir."

"I promise you I shall not."

"Thank you, sir; that's encouraging."

"To the point, boy--to the point."

Archie Maine drew a deep breath as if to pull himself together, and then
as he met the Doctor's searching eyes they seemed to draw out of him
that which he wished to say.

"I am afraid, Doctor," he said excitedly, "that I have got something
wrong with my head."

"Why? Pain you? Feeling of confusion?"

The lad shook the part of his person mentioned.

"Dizziness?"

"Oh no, sir; nothing of that sort."

"Well, go on. A doctor isn't a magician. Have you got a bad tooth?
You must tell him which one to attack with his key preliminary to the
scraunch."

"Oh, you are laughing at me, Doctor."

"Only smiling, my dear boy."

"I don't see anything to laugh at, sir, because it is a serious thing to
me."

"Good lad. I smiled because I felt happy over you since it didn't seem
to be anything serious."

"But it _is_ serious, sir."

"Let's hear. You say you have got something wrong with your head?"

"Well, I suppose it is my head, sir. But you know I am always getting
into some trouble or another."

"Exactly. You