The roar of the big road sounded plainly, but it was far enough off for
it to be subdued into a mellow hum, suggestive to the country sufferer
lying in the narrow bed with its clean linen and neat blue checked
hangings by the open window, of bees swarming, and a threshing machine
at work in the farm beyond the park.
And yet it was London, for the windows were coated with a sooty layer
outside, and the sun shone as if Nature were afraid its beams would be
too strong for Londoners' eyes, to which it came as in an eclipse
through smoked glass, and a murky haze full of germs and motes was
interposed between the dwellers in the city and the blue sky above.
The ward was long and clean, and every bed was occupied. The air was
fairly fresh and pleasant, though dashed with the odour of antiseptics.
But there was none of the faint medicinal effluvia of the sick wards,
for this was surgical--the special empire of the celebrated Sir Denton
Hayle, well known in his profession as the most skillful and daring
operator this generation has seen. There were those who shrugged their
shoulders and said he had murdered many a patient, and it was true that
a percentage--thanks to his skill, a very small percentage--of his
sufferers had died; but, on the other hand, he could point to those whom
he had saved from an apparently inevitable early death, brought on by
one of the evils of poor human nature which had heretofore set medical
and surgical skill at defiance.
Maria Bellows, in other respects a stout, hearty, country lass, had been
one of these sufferers, and the provincial doctors called in to Hightoft
by Aunt Anne to see the upper housemaid, had shaken their heads and said
there was only one thing that would save her, and that was to go up to
the great East Central Hospital and place herself in the hands of Sir
Denton Hayle.
Then, during one of his visits home, Aunt Anne insisted upon Neil
Elthorne seeing the woman. Mr Elthorne said it was absurd, but he was
quiet afterward when he heard that his son had also declared that the
only thing that could save the patient's life was for her to come up to
the hospital in town. Furthermore, he said that he would speak to the
illustrious chief under whom he studied, and see that every arrangement
was made for her reception.
Maria went up, and now lay by the open window thinking of the country,
of how long it would be before the doctors made her well again and sent
her back to her situation. Then she wondered how Miss Isabel was, and
Mr Alison, and how soon there would be weddings at the house. For it
was an open secret among the servants at Hightoft that "Master's" sons
were to marry the Misses Lydon, and that Miss Isabel would become Lady
Burwood.
"I shall be glad to get back," she said at last with a sigh. "I always
thought London was a gay place, but--ugh!--it is dull."
"Dull lying here, my poor girl," said a sweet voice, and she turned
sharply and uttered a cry of pain with the effort.
In an instant busy hands were about her, changing her position and
wiping the agony-engendered perspiration from her brow before assisting
her to drink a little water.
"I am sorry I startled you."
Maria looked half angrily in the beautiful face bent over her, with its
clearly cut, aristocratic features and large eyes, which gazed
searchingly into her own. For it was a countenance that attracted
attention with its saddened, pitying look, heightened by the smooth
white cap and stiffened quaint linen "bib and tucker," as our mothers
termed the old puritan-like costume, the whole being strongly suggestive
of the portrait of some lady of the Pilgrim Father days.
"You came so quiet, you quite frightened me," said the woman.
"Your nerves are over-strung," was the reply. "I ought to have known
better."
There was something so sweet and soothing in the deep musical tones of
the soft voice that it had its effect upon the patient directly, and she
lay back with a sigh.
"It don't matter, nurse," she said, "but do make haste and get me well."
"Indeed, we are trying very hard. But you are mending fast. Sir Denton
will be here soon to see you again."
"Yes," said the woman, with her brow growing rugged and a petulance of
manner, "to hurt me again, horrid. He'll kill me before he has done."
"You do not think so, Maria," said the nurse gently, as she laid her
cool white hand upon the patient's brow. "He is as tender and gentle as
a woman, and he takes great interest in your case."
"But, I say, they won't take me into the theatre again, will they? Oh,
I say, what a shame to call that horrid place a theatre!"
"No; that is all over now, and you have nothing to do now but get well
and go back to the country."
"But it takes so long, and it was so horrid with all those doctors and
people, and the chloroform, and stuff, and--"
"Do you not think it would be better," said the nurse gently, "if,
instead of looking at what has passed in that spirit, you were to try
and remember it only with gratitude, and think that a month back you
were in a very dangerous state, while now you are rapidly getting well?"
"I don't know," said the woman querulously. "It's very horrid lying
here listening to other people complaining and saying how bad they are,
and no one near who knows you."
"Come, come," said the nurse gently, "you are hot and tired. I have
brought you some flowers and fruit. There!"
She placed a bunch of roses in the patient's hand, and placed a bunch of
large grapes before her on the bed.
"Thanky," said the woman, ungraciously, as she sniffed at the flowers.
"But they're not very fresh."
"No," said the nurse, smiling; "but you must recollect that they had to
be cut in the country and sent up by rail. Try a few of the grapes."
She held up a little tray, and the patient picked one or two grapes off
the bunch with an indifferent air.
"Not much of grapes," she said. "You should see them in the vineries at
Hightoft. Much nicer than these poor tasteless things."
"I am sorry they're not better, Maria," said the nurse with a pitying
smile. "They were the best I could get. You must remember we are in
London."
"Oh, yes; it isn't your fault, nurse. You can't help it."
"Eat a few more."
"No; I don't want 'em. I say, how long will the doctor be? I want to
know if I mayn't get up."
"I can tell you that, Maria. Not yet. Try and be patient and trust to
us."
"Oh, very well," said the girl petulantly; "but it's horrid lying here
so long."
"Do you think you could read a little if I brought you a book?"
"No. It only makes me tired. I hate reading."
"Hush! Here is Mr Elthorne."
As she spoke a tall, keen-looking, youngish man approached the bed. He
was handsome and with a strong resemblance to his father; but his high
forehead wore a peculiarly thoughtful, intent look, and there were the
lines in his face made by constant devotion to some study, and a
something in his eyes which suggested that he was thinking deeply of an
object which had eluded his mental grasp.
"Good-morning," he said quietly. "How is your patient?"
"A little nervous and restless, sir. Ought she not to have change?"
"Yes," said the young surgeon, taking the patient's hand and watching
her intently. "As soon as we can move her, but we must hasten slowly.
You will be glad to get back--home, Maria?"
"Oh, yes, sir, please, sir. I am so tired of being here."
"I suppose so," said the young surgeon. "Naturally;" and he turned to
the nurse with a slight shrug of his shoulders.
"It is so sad and painful, sir," she said gravely. "Poor thing! I am
sure she has tried to be very patient."
"Well, we will hear what Sir Denton says."
Neil Elthorne went across the ward to another bed, and Maria uttered a
little laugh.
"What amuses you?"
"Oh, nothing, nurse; I was only thinking. Of course I want to get home
again. Anybody would."
"Well, be patient. You are getting better, and you must think of health
and strength, and the bright country life, where you will have fresh
flowers and better fruit, and be among your friends."
The nurse smiled, and then placed a little bottle of lavender water in
her patient's hand.
"To sprinkle about you when you feel faint," she said.
"Thanky," said the woman, in a tone of voice which robbed the word of
thankfulness; and the nurse went across to where the young surgeon was
busy with another patient.
"And she knows I don't like lavender water," grumbled the woman.
"Always trying to play the fine lady nurse, and showing off, and I don't
believe she's a lady at all. A real lady would have brought Padchouly
or Odyklone. Think I don't know. Flowers and grapes only cheap
rubbish. Can't afford better, I suppose."
She lay back watching the actions of nurse and surgeon the while, and
commenting thereon.
"She's an artful one, she is, with all her demure looks and mincing
ways. I'm not blind. Only come here because she can wear them
play-acting clothes and show off. I haven't patience with her. Lady
nurse, indeed. No more a lady than I am. Yes, of course. Look at
that. But it won't do, madam. He's engaged, and if I see much more of
it I'll tell the old doctor--see if I don't. You're not going to trap
our Master Neil, and so I tell you. I should like to set Miss Saxa at
her. My word, she'd startle my lady. Well, now; look at that!"
There was not much to see, only that Neil Elthorne had spoken as they
were leaving the other patient's bedside, and the nurse had turned to
look at him as if half startled, and then turned away and came back
seeming slightly disturbed. But by the time she had reached the first
patient's bedside her face was perfectly calm again, and an unbiased
observer would have said that it was very beautiful in its gentle,
resigned expression.
"Let me sprinkle a little of the scent for you," she said.
"Oh, very well. If you like," said Maria ungraciously. Then quickly,
and with a flash of suspicion in her eyes, "I say, why do you look at me
like that? You don't think I shall die, do you?"
"Oh, no," said the nurse, smiling, "indeed no. You will get better and
go."
"But lots of them do die, don't they?"
"Some do, unfortunately; but why should you think of that?"
"You've seen lots die, haven't you?"
"Yes," said the nurse gravely; "in spite of all our efforts; and I have
seen many grow strong and well, thanks to the skill of Sir Denton Hayle
and Mr Elthorne."
"We always call him Mr Neil at home; master's Mr Elthorne."
"And go away at last, cured," continued the nurse, not heeding the
interruption, "thankful for Heaven's mercy and full of gratitude to
those who have tended them."
"So am I," said Maria, shortly. "You think I'm not, but I am."
"Hush! Do not talk. You are getting flushed and excited. Here is Sir
Denton."
"That's right," muttered Maria, as the nurse left the bedside to go
toward a slight little white-haired gentleman, closely shaven, and whose
lips were closely compressed, as, with his large, deeply-set eyes he
gave a quick glance round the ward, which became perfectly still as he
approached.
"Good-morning," he said. "Come, my child, this will not do. Too pale!
Too much application. The nurse will have to be nursed if we go on like
this."
"Oh, no, I am quite well, Sir Denton," she said, smiling, with quite an
affectionate look in her face.
"Then I am an ignorant old pretender, my child," he said gravely.
"Well, Elthorne, anything special to report?"
"Number forty-four, here, not quite so well as I should like to see her.
Been a little feverish in the night, has she not, nurse?"
"Yes, sir," replied the nurse; "but if I might say so--."
"Of course, of course," said Sir Denton, "a little irritable."
"I think it is more that she is fretting to get away from here, than
from any fresh complication."
"Let's see," said the keen-looking old surgeon, turning at once to the
bed, where Maria had lain watching them and trying to catch their words.
"Well," he said aloud, as he seated himself and made his rapid
examination, "flowers and fruit, and a clear eye and a clean tongue.
Healthy look, too, about your skin, and the colour coming back. Why,
you may get up--yes, for an hour or two, say the day after to-morrow,
and in another week or two we will send you back home cured. What do
you say to that?"
"Thanky, sir."
"Strange woman, that," said Sir Denton, an hour later, when he was
leaving the ward. "I believe that when she was made, all the atoms or
particles which go to form the virtue known as gratitude were left out.
What do you say, nurse?"
"The poor woman has suffered a great deal."
"Yes, but she might have shown some little thankfulness to you for what
you have done."
"I, Sir Denton?" said the nurse deprecatingly. "Yes, my child, you.
What I have done would have been useless without your help. But there,
it is waste of words to praise you, for you are a dreadful sceptic. By
the way, Elthorne, there is nothing to prevent you from taking a week's
run. You ought to have it now."
"I don't like to leave till that woman is perfectly safe from a
relapse."
"Well, she is now, so go. It will suit me better than if you wait to go
later on. Nurse Elisia and I will see to her. I suppose you will trust
us?"
"What a question!" said the young surgeon. "Well, under those
circumstances I will go for a few days--say four."
"Take a fortnight, man."
"No; the time I said. I should not go down only my people consider that
I am neglecting them. I shall be back at the end of four days."
He glanced sharply at the nurse as he spoke, and she met his eyes in the
most calm, unmoved way.
"You may depend upon my taking every care of the patient, Mr Elthorne,"
she said quietly.
"Thank you; I am sure you will," he said with his brow wrinkling a
little. But he mastered himself the next minute, as he gave a few
directions concerning other patients in the ward.
"Tut, man! that will do," said Sir Denton, impatiently. "The conceit of
you young fellows is dreadful. Do you think there will be screens drawn
round all the beds just because you are out of the way? We'll try and
keep your patients alive."
Neil laughed good-humouredly.
"I have perfect faith in nurse," he said apologetically. "Forgive me
for being anxious about my ward."
"Partly humbug, my dear boy," said the great surgeon to himself. "But
there, I don't blame him." Then aloud: "My dear Elthorne, seriously, I
think change is necessary sometimes, and take my word for it, as an old
experienced man, when I say that a holiday is no waste of time. You
will come back clearer-headed, and with your nerves toned up. When you
come back I shall myself take a few days' rest, and I can do so with the
pleasant feeling of confidence that everything here in my ward will go
on exactly as I could wish--thanks to you both."
"Thanks to your teachings," said Neil.
"Well, perhaps I have done my best. You are wanted there."
One of the dressers had come up and was waiting to speak, and Neil went
off with him directly to the other end of the ward.
"He will be a great man one of these days, nurse," said the old surgeon
quietly. "His heart is in his work, and he is having chances far beyond
any that came to my lot when I was young. We have made such vast
strides during the past five and twenty years. And now, my child, a
word or two with you."
"With me, Sir Denton?" said the nurse, with the blood flushing up at
once into her pale cheeks.
"Yes," he said, watching her keenly. "Proof positive. The colour
flooded your face directly I spoke. You are as nervous as if you had
been ill."
"Oh, I am quite well, Sir Denton," she said hastily.
"No, you are not, my child. You are over-strung. You have been working
too hard, and you are on the point of breaking down. Your life is too
valuable to us all here for your health to be trifled with."
"Indeed, I--"
"Know nothing about it," said the old man decisively. "I do, and I know
that your heart is so much in your work that you would go on till you
dropped. You must have change from the air of this place."
"Really, Sir Denton, I am--"
"Going to do exactly as I bid you, nurse; and I wish that you would look
upon me as a very old friend, and not merely as a crotchety surgeon, who
worries and bullies the nurses about his patients."
"Indeed, you have always been most kind and considerate to me, Sir
Denton."
"Have I? I thought I was very inconsiderate sometimes, and found a
great deal of fault."
"You have just given me proof of the interest you take in me, Sir
Denton."
"Ah, well, we all try to do our best. Then, as your friend, I shall
insist upon your taking a month."
"A month, Sir Denton?"
"Yes; it is quite necessary; and you, too, will come back like a lioness
refreshed, ready to battle with our troubles here. Look, that woman
wants you," he continued, nodding toward Maria's bed. "Don't spoil her
too much. She's an ungrateful baggage. I've noticed her. Behaves to
you as if you were her servant."
"Oh, I do not mind," said the nurse, smiling. "That's right. Neither
do I, for we've made a splendid cure of it, nurse. It's a perfect
triumph for science. I shall have to read a paper upon her case at the
Institution. Morning. I shall insist upon your going away soon."
Sir Denton went out of the ward in a quick, energetic way, and Nurse
Elisia crossed to Maria's bed. "Did you want me?" she said gently.
"Yes, of course I did. It's too bad for you to stop away talking to the
doctor so long."
"Sir Denton was giving me instructions partly," said the nurse.
"Yes, partly," said the woman maliciously. "Things go on at hospitals
that wouldn't be allowed in a gentleman's house, I can tell you."
The nurse's eyes flashed, but her voice was unchanged as she said
quietly:
"What did you wish me to do for you?"
"Oh, you needn't turn it off. I'm not blind. I've seen and noticed a
deal while I've been lying here. Isn't it time I had my meat jelly?"
"No," said the nurse quietly. "I should have brought it to you if it
had been time."
"I don't know so much about that. Never mind. I shall soon be fit to
go, and precious glad of it."
"Yes, it will be a great relief for you to get away."
"And so Mr Neil's going for a holiday down home. I suppose he can't
stop away any longer without running down to see his sweetheart.
Shouldn't wonder if he got married before he comes back."
She gazed in the nurse's face with eyes full of low-class cunning,
expecting to see there a peculiar shrinking--the wincing of one found
out. But the countenance into which she gazed was perfectly calm and
unruffled.
"Can I do anything more for you?"
"No; not now. Thank ye," said the woman ungraciously; "I'm going to
have a nap."
"Do," said the nurse, rearranging the pillow. "If you do not find that
it interferes with your night's rest, sleep as much as you can. It
gives nature a better opportunity to build up your strength again."
"Yes; but I'm not blind," said Maria to herself, as she saw the nurse go
and bend over another patient, and try to alleviate her sufferings.
"I've been long enough in the world to know what's what. I've seen too
much here. She's a nasty, artful one. She's playing the fine lady, and
mincing and using big words, and trying to lead Mr Neil on till he is
getting ever so stupid over her, and then she looks up at him as meek
and innocent as a lamb, and as much as to say: `Oh, my! what do you
mean?' Wait till I get home again, and master shall know all about it,
and if he don't put a stop to it pretty sharp, my name isn't Maria.
Such impudence! A common hospital nurse trying to lead him on. Ugh! I
hate the smooth, whitefaced thing, dressed up in her starchy cap and
collar and cuffs, and making believe to be so superior. Oh, how I
should like to see Miss Saxa have a turn at her. I'll tell her; that I
will. I haven't patience with the creature; and as for Mr Neil, he
ought to be ashamed of himself."
Nurse Elisia was having her fit of musing about the same time, and her
face for the moment looked troubled and strange.