Part 18 (1/2)

There was an atmosphere of serenity in the courtly, kindly presence of the great doctor.

”Have you any objection to being cross-questioned?” he asked, producing a notebook and pencil.

”Not at all,” she said.

”General Maxwell told me to make a point of visiting your ward. I am sorry you will not be there. Would it not be possible for you to go over to Irene with me to-morrow? I am leaving by the early train.”

Hansie hesitated.

”I have no permit, and it is too late now.”

”Oh, that is easily remedied.”

A messenger was at once dispatched to General Maxwell's house, almost next door, and he soon returned with the necessary permits and a cordial note from the Governor, wis.h.i.+ng them ”good luck.”

That was an eventful day at Irene!

The anxious face of the ”new nurse” broke into a beaming smile when she saw Hansie on the scenes once more, the people crowding round her with their questions. Why did she come back? Was she going to stay?

Didn't she go to Pretoria yesterday? Who was that with her? etc.

Mothers pulled her aside and pointed in wordless grief to their tents, to what lay there in still repose since last night. Children clung to her skirts--”We thought you had gone for good.”

”The people love you,” the great doctor said.

”But not as much as I love them,” the answer quickly came.

It was arranged that Dr. Franks should go through the hospital, the dispensary, and the store-rooms in the morning, with the matron and the doctors of the Camp, and that after lunch he should inspect some of the tents in Hansie's ward.

This arrangement suited her to perfection, for she wished, after she had greeted her people in the Camp, to write an important letter, destined for the north of Holland, for which she had had neither time nor opportunity for many weeks.

The doctor's ”hour or two in the Camp” lengthened to three, very nearly four, and during the greater part of this time Hansie, sitting in the tent which had been hers, wrote, without lifting her head.

”How shall I get this away? The censor must not set eyes on _this_,”

she mused as she folded the closely written sheets.

She put the envelope into her handbag, and just then ”the girls”

trooped in from the Camp. Surprised greetings were exchanged and explanations made as they all went into the big marquee where the midday meal was being served.

The doctor was very hot and tired after his long visit of inspection, but highly satisfied with the number of notes he had made, and the meal pa.s.sed off in animated conversation. When it was over, Dr. Franks and Hansie went through the long rows of tents in her ward--her ”prize” tents she called them--and the doctor seemed much struck by the extreme poverty and misery of the inmates. In one tent two little boys were dying, and the distracted mother, when she heard the magic word ”doctor,” implored him to save them. She was a widow and these children were all she had. He knelt beside them and examined them with his strong and gentle hands, shaking his head. There was no hope.

”Your ward is in a shocking state. But things were not as bad in the dispensary and store-rooms as you made out last night,” he said to her on their way to the station.

There was a touch of reproof in the kind voice.

”You saw the small supply which is always kept for inspection, doctor,” she answered. ”It is always there and is not touched when the stores run out.”

His face wore a troubled look, but he said no more.