"But I wish you would."
"You'd be offended."
"No; I would—-See here not trying to be offensive with me, are you?"
"Certainly not."
"Oh, that's all right then. Go ahead and tell me what you think."
"I was a good deal astonished," went on Prescott, "when back in plebe days, the other fellows chose me for their president. I wasn't expecting it, and I didn't know what to make of it. But the fellows of the class gave me that great honor. I stand ready to step down from the honor at any time when the class feels that it would like another president."
"I'd like the honor, Prescott. But, of course, I didn't know that you held to it so earnestly. If you don't want to give it up, of course I'll go slow in asking you to do so. But I thought that both you and the class would appreciate having as president a man who has been longer at the Military Academy than any of the others."
"If I were to resign the presidency," replied Prescott bluntly,
"I don't believe you'd stand a ghost of a show of getting it."
Cadet Haynes sprang to his feet, cheeks crimson, his eyes flashing.
"Why not?" he insisted.