the red acorn-第23章

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eoric　enthusiasm　ebbed　to　the　bottom。　　Ushered　into　the　Surgeon's　office　she　was　presented　to　a　red…faced；　harsh…eyed　man；　past　the　middle　age；　who　neither　rose　nor　apologized　to　her　for　being　discovered　in　the　undress　of　a　hot　day。　　He　montioned　her　to　a　seat　with　the　wave　of　the　fan　he　was　vigorously　using；　and　taking　her　letter　of　introduction；　adjusted　eye…glasses　upon　a　ripe…colored　nose；　and　read　it　with　a　scowl　that　rippled　his　face　with　furrows。

〃So　you're　the　first　of　the　women　nurses　that's　to　be　assigned　to　me；〃　he　said　ungraciously；　after　finishing　the　letter；　and　scanning　her　severely　for　a　moment　over　the　top　of　his　glasses。　　〃I　suppose　I　have　to　have　'em。〃

The　manner　hurt　Rachel　even　more　than　the　words。　　Before　she　could　frame　a　reply　he　continued：

〃I　don't　take　much　stock　in　this　idea　of　women　nurses；　especially　when　they're　young　and　pretty。〃　　He　scowled　at　Rachel　as　if　she　had　committed　a　crime　in　being　young　and　beautiful。　　〃But　the　country's　full　of　women　with　a　Quixotic　notion　of　being　Florence　Nightingales；　and　they've　badgered　the　Government　into　accepting　their　services。　I　suppose　I'll　have　to　take　my　share　of　them。　　Ever　nursed？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　responded　Rachel；　compressing　as　much　ahughtiness　as　possible　into　the　answer。

〃Of　course　not。　　Girls　at　your　age　are　not　at　all　likely　to　know　anything　that　is　useful；　and　least　of　all　how　to　nurse　a　sick　man。　　I　hardly　know　which　is　the　worst；　a　young　one　who　don't　know　anything；　or　a　middle…aged　one　who　thinks　she　knows　it　all；　and　continually　interferes　with　the　management　of　a　case。　　I　believe　though；　I'd　rather　have　had　the　middle…aged　one　to　start　with。　She'd　be　more　likely　to　tend　to　her　business；　and　not　have　her　head　turned　by　the　attentions　of　the　good…looking　young　officers　who　swarm　around　her。　　Mind；　I'll　not　allow　any　flirting　here。〃

Rachel's　face　crimsoned。　　〃You　forget　yourself；〃　she　said；　cuttingly；　〃or　perhaps　you　have　nothing　to　forget。　　At　least；　man　an　effort　to　remember　that　I'm　a　lady。〃

The　bristly　eyebrows　straightened　down　to　a　level　line　over　the　small　blue　eyes；　and　unpleasant　furrows　drew　themselves　around　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　　〃YOU　forget；〃　he　said；　〃that　if　you　enter　upon　these　duties　you　are　in　the　military　service　and　subject　to　your　superior　officers。　　You　forget　the　necessity　of　the　most　rigid　discipline；　and　that　it　is　my　duty　to　explain　and　enforce　this。〃

〃I　certainly　expect　to　obey　orders；〃　said　Rachel；　a　little　overawed。

〃You　may　rightly　expect　to；〃　he　answere　with　a　slight　sneer；　〃because　it　will　be　a　matter　of　necessityyou　will　have　to。　　We　must　have　instant　and　unquestioning　obedience　to　orders　here；　as　well　as　everywhere　else　in　the　Army；　or　it　would　be　like　a　rope　of　sandof　no　strength　whateverno　strength；　whatever。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　answered　Rachel；　depressed　even　more　by　th　apparition　of　martial　law　than　she　had　been　by　the　heat。

〃And　what　I　have　been　telling　you　is　only　the　beginning；〃　continued　the　Surgeon；　noting　the　effect　of　his　words；　and　exulting　in　their　humbling　power。　　〃The　cornerstone　of　everything　military　is　obedienceprompt；　unfailing　obedience；　by　everybody；　soldier　or　officer；　to　his　superiors。　　Without　it…〃

〃Major　Moxon；〃　said　an　officer；　entering　and　saluting；　〃the　General　presents　his　compliments；　and　desires　to　know　why　his　repeated　orders　in　regard　to　the　furloughing　of　men　have　been　so　persistently　disregarded。〃

〃Because；〃　said　the　Surgeon；　getting　purplish…red　about　the　cheeks　and　nose；　〃　because　the　matter's　one　which　I　consider　outside　of　his　provincebeyond　his　control；　sir。　　I　am　Chief　of　the　Medical　Department；　as　you　are　perhaps　aware；　sir。〃

〃We　presumed　that　you　were　taking　that　view　of　the　matter；　from　your　course；〃　answered　the　Aide　calmly。　　〃I　am　not　here　to　argue　the　matter　with　you；　but　simply　to　direct　you　to　consider　yourself　under　arrest。　　Charges　are　being　prepared　against　you；　to　which　I　will　add　specifications　based　on　this　interview。　　Good　afternoon；　sir。〃　　The　Aide　saluted　stiffly　and　moved　away；　leaving　the　Surgeon　in　a　state　of　collapse　at　the　prospect　of　what　he　had　brought　upon　himself　by　his　injudicious　contumacy。　　Mis　Rachel　was　in　that　state　of　wonderment　that　comes　to　pupils　at　seeing　their　teachers　rebel　agains　their　own　precepts。　　The　Surgeon　was　too　much　engrossed　in　his　own　affairs　to　pay　farther　heed　to　her。　　He　tapped　a　bell。

〃Orderly；〃　he　said；　to　the　soldier　who　responded；　〃conduct　this　young　woman　to　Dr。　Denslow。　　Inform　him　that　she　is　to　be　with　us　as　a　nurse；　and　ask　him　to　be　kind　enough　to　assign　her　suitable　quarters。　　Good　afternoon；　ma'am。〃

In　another　office；　much　smaller　and　far　less　luxuriously　furnished；　she　found　Dr。　Denslow；　a　hazel…eyed；　brown…bearded　man　of　thirty；　whose　shoulder…straps　bore　the　modest　bars　of　Captain。　　The　reader　has　already　made　his　acquaintance。　　He　received　her　with　the　pleasant；　manly　sympathy　for　her　sex；　which　had　already　made　him　one　of　the　most　popular　of　family　physicians　in　the　city　where　he　was　practicing　at　the　outbreak　of　the　war。

Rachel's　depressed　spirits　rose　again　at　his　cordial　reception。

〃I　am　so　busy；〃　he　said；　after　a　brief　exchange　of　commonplaces；　〃that　I'll　not　have　the　time　to　give　you　much　information　this　afternoon　as　to　your　duties；　and　I　know　that　you　are　so　fatigued　with　your　journey　and　the　heat　that　you　will　not　care　to　do　anything　but　rest　and　refresh　yourself。　　I　will　therefore　show　you　immediately　to　your　quarters。〃

〃This　will　be　your　field　of　labor；〃　he　said；　as　he　led　her　down　the　long　aisle　between　rows　of　cots　toward　her　room。　　〃It's　not　a　cheerful　one　to　contemplate　at　first。　　Human　suffering　is　always　a　depressing　spectacle；　and　you　will　see　here　more　of　it　and　more　varied　agony　than　you　can　find　anywhere　outside　of　an　army　hospital's　walls。　　But　as　the　deed　is　so　is　the　duty；　and　the　glory　of　doing　it。　　To　one　who　wants　to　serve　God　and　his　fellow…creatureswhich　I　take　it　is　the　highest　form　of　religionhere　is　an　opportunity　that　he　may　bless　God　for　giving　him。　　Here　he　can　earn　a　brighter　crown　than　is　given　them　who　die　at　the　stake　for　opinion's　sake。〃

So　earnest　was　his　enthusiasm　that　Rachel　felt　herself　lifted　up　by　it；　in　spite　of　her　discomforts。　　But　then　she　turned　her　eyes　away　from　his　impassioned　face；　and　looked　over　the　array　of　white　beds；　each　with　its　pale　and　haggard　occupant；　his　eyes　blazing　with　the　delirium　of　fever；　or　closed　in　the　langor　of　exhaustion；　with　limbs　tossing　as　the　febrile　fire　seethed　the　blood；　or　quivering　with　the　last　agonies。　　Groans；　prayers；　and　not　a　few　oaths　fell　on　her　ears。　　The　repulsive　smell　of　the　disinfectants；　the　nauseating　odor　of　the　sick　room　where　hundreds　of　invalids　were　lying；　the　horrible　effluvia　of　the　typhus　rose　on　the　hot　air；　and　seemed　part　of　the　misery　which　so　strongly　assailed　her　other　senses。

She　was　sick　at　heart；　and　with　every　feeling　in　active　revolt；　but　without　a　word　she　turned　and　followed　Dr。　Denslow　to　a　hot；　close；　little　room　which　had　been　cut　off　one　end　of　the　hospital；　though　not　so　separated　from　it　but　that　the　sounds　and　odors　from　the　sick　wards　continually　filtered　in　through　the　wide　cracks　in　its　plank　sides。　　An　iron　bedstead；　of　the　same　pattern　as　that　upon　which　the　sick　lay；　stood　in　one　corner；　and　in　another　was　a　rudely…fashioned　stand；　upon　which　was　a　tin…basin；　a　cake　of　yellow　bar…soap；　and　a　bucket　of　water　for　washing。　　This　was　all　the　furniture。

As　the　door　closed　behind　the　Doctor；　Rachel　threw　herself　upon　the　cot；　in　a　fit　of　despair　at　the　wreck　of　all　her　fancies；　and　the　repulsiveness　of　the　career　upon　which　she　had　embarked。

〃I　can　notI　will　notlive　here　a　week；〃　she　said　to　herself；　over　and　over　again。　　〃I　will　die　for　the　lack　of　comfortsof　the　decencies　of　life；　evento　say　nothing　of　being　poisoned　by　these　horrible　smells；　or　driven　distracted　by　the　raving　sick　and　that　boor　of　a　Surgeon。　　But　I　can　not　draw　back；　I　would　rather　die　than　go　back　to　Sardis　with　a　confession　of　failure　at　the　very　outset　of　my　attempt　to　play　the　heroine。〃

Then　she　remembered　her　last　words　to　Harry　Glen：　　〃I　only　know　that　you　have　failed　where　a　number　of　commonplace　men　have　succeeded；　and　that　is　sufficient。〃

Would　she　subject　herself　to　having　him　throw　these　words　in　her　teeth？　　No。　　Any　shape　of　trial　and　death；　rather。





Chapter　XV。　　Making　an　Acquaintance　with　Duty。




And　with　light　in　her　looks　she　entered　the　chamber　of　sickness。　Noiselessly　moved　about　the　assiduous；　careful　attendants；　Moistening　the　feverish　lip；　and　teh　aching　brow；　and　in　silence　Closing　the　sightless　eyes　of　the　dead；　and　concealing　their　faces；　Where　on　their　pallets　they　lay　like　drifts　of　snow　by　the　roadside。　Many　a　languid　head　upraised　as　Evangeline　entered；　Turned　on　its　pillow　of　pain　to　gaze　while　she　passed　for　her　presence　Fell　on　their　hearts　like　a　ray　of　sun　on　the　walls　of　a　prison；　And　as　she　looked　around　she　saw　how　Death　the　Consoler；　Laying　his　hand　on　many　a　heart　hade　healed　it　forever。Evangaline。


Nervously　bolting　the　rude　door　after　Dr。　Denslow's　departure；　Rachel　tossed　her　hat　into　one　corner；　and　without　farther　undressing　flung　herself　down　upon　the　coarse　blankets　of　the　cot；　in　utter　exhaustion　of　mind　and　body。　　Nature；　beneficent　ever　to　Youth　and　Health；　at　once　drew　the　kindly　curtains　of　Sleep；　and　the　world　and　its　woes　became　oblivion。

Early　the　next　morning　the　shrill　REVEILLE　called　for　a　resumption　of　the　day's　activities。　　She　was　awakened　by　the　fifes　screaming　a　strenuously　cheeful　jig；　but　lay　for　some　minutes　without　opening　her　eyes。　　She　was　so　perfectly　healthful　in　every　way　that　the　tribulations　of　the　previous　day　had　left　no　other　traces　than　a　slight　wariness。　　But　every　sense　began　informing　her　that　yesterday's　experience　was　not　a　nightmare　of　her　sleep；　but　a　waking　reality。　The　morning　sun　was　already　pouring　hot　beams　upon　the　thin　roof　over　her　head。　　Through　the　wide　cracks　in　the　partition　came　the　groans　and　the　nauseating　odors　which　had　depressed　her　so　on　the　day　before。　　Mingled　with　these　was　the　smell　of　spoiled　coffee　and　ill…cooked　food　floating　in　from　the　kitchen；　where　a　detail　of　slovenly　and　untaught　cooks　were　preparing　breakfast。

She　shuddered　and　opened　her　eyes。

The　rude　garniture　of　her　room；　thickly　covered　with　coarse　dust；　and　destitute　of　everything　to　make　life　comfortable；　looked　even　more　repugnant　than　it　had　the　evening　before。

The　attack　of　sickness　at　heart　at　the　position　in　which　she　found　herself　came　on　with　renewed　intensity；　for　the　hatefulness　of　everything　connected　with　the　lot　she　had　chosen　seemed　to　have　augmented　during　the　passing　hours。　　She　tried　to　gain　a　little　respite　by　throwing　one　white　arm　over　her　eyes；　so　as　to　shut　out　all　sight；　that　she　might　imagine　for　a　moment　at　least　that　she　was　back　under　the　old　apple　tree　at　Sardis；　before　all　this　sorrow　had　come　into　her　life。

〃It　is　not　possible；〃　she　murmured　to　herself；　〃that　Florence　Nightingale；　and　those　who　assisted　her　found　their　work　and　its　surroundings　as　unlovely　as　it　is　here。　　I　won't　believe　it。　　In　Europe　things　are　different；　and　the　hospitals　are　made　fitting　places　for　women　to　visit　and　dwell　in。〃

It　would　have　helped