The next minute she was standing at the side door greeting Dr. Carmon. The ambulance was at the door.
"It's a bad case," he said. "Waited too long."
"Woman, I suppose," said Aunt Jane. She was watching the men as they put the trestles in place.
He looked at her. "How did you know?"
"They're 'most always the ones to wait. They stand the pain better'n men." She stepped to one side with a quiet glance at the litter as the men bore it past. "She'll come through," she said as they followed it up the low stairway.
"I wish I felt as sure," responded Dr. Carmon.
Aunt Jane glanced back. A man was standing at the door, his eyes following them. She looked inquiringly toward the doctor.
"Her husband," he said. "He's going to wait."
Aunt Jane spoke a word to a nurse who was coming down the stairs, with a motion of her hand toward the man waiting below.
The little procession entered the operating-room, and the door was shut.