Feverishly, in undertones, Greg confided the news to Anstey.
"I don't just see what we can do, suh," answered the southerner with a puzzled look.
"Prescott is doing, suh, just what I reckon I'd do myself, suh, if
I were in his place."
"But we can't lose him," urged Greg.
"I know we'll hate like thunder to, suh. But what can we do? Can we beg Prescott to stay, and face the cold shoulder, suh, all the time he is here, and in the Army afterwards?"
"I'm not getting much comfort out of you, Anstey," muttered Greg grimly.
"And that, suh, is because I don't see where the comfort comes in. Holmesy, don't think I'm not suffering, suh. It'll break my heart to see old ramrod drop out of the corps."
"Then you don't think we can stop Prescott?"
"I reckon I don't Holmesy. This is the kind of matter, suh, that every man must settle for himself. If I were a much older man, Holmesy, with much more experience in the Army, I reckon I might be able to give him some very sound advice. But as it is, suh, I know I can't."
When Greg returned to the room he found Dick preparing books and papers to march to the next section recitation.