Part 27 (1/2)
”And no turkey for me. But you'll get me a gla.s.s of wine?”
”I'm not sure. I'll ask the Doctor.”
She sat beside him until he again dozed. Then made her way once more to the room where the lovely gowns were piled high on the bed, and the jewels sparkled on the dressing-table. Quickly and noiselessly she put them in place. Then she tried to take off the collar, but the snaps held. She tugged and pressed, but with no result. She was afraid to pull too hard lest she break the snaps.
At last she was forced to b.u.t.ton the collar of her linen gown above it.
She smoothed her hair and put on her cap. The room as she surveyed it showed no sign of her occupation. She put out the light and returned to her patient.
She was at the front door to let the Doctor in when he arrived.
”The General is awake, and wants to see you. I'll come down when you go, and we can talk.”
As they entered the shadowed room together, the old man opened his eyes. ”h.e.l.lo, McKenzie. Nurse, what made you put on your cap? I don't like it.”
”I shouldn't dare leave it off when the Doctor's here.”
”Does she have to take your orders or mine, McKenzie?”
”Mine,” smiling; ”that's one of the perquisites of my profession, to have all the nurses under my thumb.”
”Don't you try to please your patients?”
”Yes.”
”Then tell her to leave off her cap.”
He began to cough. The Doctor bent over him. Hilda helped to make the old man comfortable.
When at last the General drifted into slumber, the two went down together. The hall clock pointed to four.
They stood at the foot of the great stairway. From the landing the painted lady smiled at them.
”Hilda, I am going to France.”
She expressed no surprise. ”When did you make up your mind?”
”In a sense it is not made up. I think I am waiting for you to confirm my decision. They want me at the head of a hospital staff, to deal with cases of shock. I should like to have you in charge of my nurses.”
She meditated. ”I am not sure that I care to go.”
He showed his surprise. ”I understood that if I went, you would go--”
”I don't think I said that.”
”Perhaps not. But it didn't occur to me that you would back out.” His voice showed the irritation of a man balked in the thing he wants.
”I haven't backed out. I don't know what I want to do. I have to think it over.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. ”What made you change your mind?”