"From three to six weeks, I think, according to the weather and his state of mind."
"What's the matter with his mind?"
"Impatience," said the Doctor; "the evil of the whole Western world."
I had finished eating. The Doctor got his pipe: the idol's head was the same old idol's head. Lydia disappeared into one of the tents.
"Jones," said Dr. Khayme, "I have been thinking that yesterday will prove to be the crisis of the war."
"You alarm me more than ever; do you mean to say that the South will win?"
"My words do not imply that belief; but what does it matter which side shall win?"
"Doctor, you are a strange man!"
"I have been told so very frequently; but that is not to the point. I ask what difference it would make whether the North or South should succeed."
"Then why go to war? Why not let the South, secede peaceably? What are we doing here?"