Aunt Jane was in her office. It was Monday morning and the wheels had
gritted getting under way. She had poured a drop of oil here and another
drop there, as it seemed needed, and had come back to her office for a
general survey before starting again.
It was well known in the House of Mercy that the times when the whole
hospital force went scurrying about, under some sudden emergency, were
often the times that Aunt Jane chose, for some unknown reason, to sit
quietly in her office, doing nothing.
Hurrying by the office door, with tense look and quick-running feet,
they would catch a glimpse of Aunt Jane sitting placidly at ease; and
they would slow down a little, perhaps, and wonder what she could be
thinking of to sit there as if nothing were wrong.... And then, somehow,
through the hospital would run a quiet, steadying force that seemed to
hold them in place and use them for its ends; and they would be
conscious, as they worked, of being bigger than they had guessed.
Aunt Jane was not thinking now of any crisis. The troubles this morning
were petty ones--"pin pricks," she called them. She was wondering about
the millionaire--and wondering whether she would better go to Suite
A.... Miss Canfield had reported a good night and Dr. Carmon would be
coming soon.
She looked up. The doctor's figure was in the doorway. He nodded gruffly
as he took off his coat. "Everybody all right?"
Aunt Jane's tongue clicked a little. She went to a corner of the room
and moved back the screen and turned on the hot water.
"Come here," she said.
The doctor looked at her inquiringly.
"You didn't clean your vest! It's a perfect sight!" She tested the water
with her hand and took up the soap.
Dr. Carmon glanced down at the expanse of vest guiltily. He scowled.
"I'm too busy--to fuss." He reached for his bag.
"Come here!" said Aunt Jane.
And while he fidgeted and grumbled, her firm, efficient fingers scrubbed
at him with soap and hot water and a bit of rough cloth. Satisfaction
shone on him. "I never knew a man that could keep himself clean!" she
said briskly.
"There!" She stood back a little. "It doesn't show much now. I'll do a
little more on it--when it's dried off so I can see."
He backed hastily away. "I'll send it to the tailor. I'll do it
to-night."
"You don't need to waste money on tailors," she said calmly. "A little
soap and--" But he was gone.
Aunt Jane smiled to herself and put back the soap and hung up the cloth
and replaced the screen. She moved with the ample leisure of those who
have plenty of time.
A nurse came in from the waiting-room. "A man is here--a Mr. Dalton. He
wants to know if he can see you?"
"Yes, I'll see him," said Aunt Jane.
"He said he could come again if you are too busy." The nurse waited.
"No, I'm not busy--no busier than I always am, I guess. You tell him to
come in."
He came in with quick step and a little light in his face--as if a glint
of sun shone on a dark field.