Part 23 (1/2)
”And if I should object, what then?” she asked, almost inaudibly.
”I should refuse to operate. I cannot pretend that an operation is the only means left to save his life. It is just the other way round. We are supposed to take extreme measures in extreme cases, but always with the idea of prolonging human life. In this instance, I am bound to tell you, that I don't believe there is a chance to save him. We must look the matter squarely in the face.”
”You said that there was absolutely no chance.” She leaned heavily against the table.
”I believe there is no chance, but I am not all-seeing, Anne. We never know,-absolutely. Miracles happen. They are not performed by man, however.”
”Have you spoken to Dr. Bates?”
”Yes. He is coming to the hospital, to-to be with me.”
”He will not attempt to prevent the operation?”
”No. He does not advise or sanction it, but he-understands.”
”And you will be held responsible for everything?”
”I suppose so,” said he bitterly.
She was silent for a long time. ”I think I shall object to the operation, Braden,” she said at last.
”For my sake and not for his, I take it,” he said.
”I may as well give him the tablets myself, as to consent to your method of-of-” She could not finish the sentence.
”It isn't quite the same,” he said. ”I act with the authority of the law behind me. You would be violating the law.”
”Still you would be killing a fellow creature,” she protested. ”I-I cannot allow you to sacrifice yourself, Braden.”
”You forget that I have no false notions as to the question of right and wrong in cases of this kind. I a.s.sure you that if I undertake this operation it will be with a single purpose in mind: to save and prolong the life of my patient. The worst you can say of me is that I am convinced beforehand that I shall fail. If I were to act upon the principles I advocate, I should not feel obliged to go through the travesty of an operation. The time may come when cases of this sort will be laid before a commission, and if in their judgment it is deemed humane to do so, a drug will be administered and the horrors that are likely to attend my efforts of to-morrow will be impossible. There is no such law to sustain me now, no commission, no decision by experts and familiars to back me up, so I can only obey the commands of the patient himself,-and do the best I can for him. He insists on having the operation performed-and by me. I am one of the family. I am his only blood relative. It is meet and just, says he, that I should be the one, and not some disinterested, callous outsider.
That is the way he puts it, and I have not denied him.”
”It is horrible,” she moaned, shuddering. ”Why do you ask me to consent?
Why do you put it up to me?”
”You now place me in the position of the surgeon who advises a prompt-I mean, who says that an operation is imperative.”
”But that isn't the truth. You do not advise it.”
He drew a long breath. ”Yes, I do advise it. There is no other way. I shall try to save him. I _do_ advise it.”
She left him and went over to the fireplace, where she stood with her back toward him for many minutes, staring into the coals. He did not change his position. He did not even look at her. His eyes were fixed on the rug near the closed door. There was a warm, soft red in that rare old carpet.
Finally she turned to him.
”I shall not let you take all of the responsibility, Braden,” she said.
”It isn't fair. I shall not oppose you. You have my consent to go on with it.”
”I a.s.sume all responsibility,” he said, abruptly, almost gruffly.