. . . To give Tietjens the appointment of second in command of the VIth Battalion of his regiment!
Tietjens said, but he did not know where the words came from:
"Colonel Partridge will not like that. He's praying for McKechnie to come back!"
To himself he said:
"I shall fight this monstrous treatment of myself to my last breath."
The general suddenly called out:
"There you are. . . . There is another of your infernal worries. . . ."
He put a strong check on himself, and, dryly, like the very great speaking to the very unimportant, asked:
"What's your medical category?"
Tietjens said: