The patients, who were too sick to be wheeled out upon the porch, looked on with interest. Mrs. Witherspoon, who spent most of her waking hours with her bed curtains drawn and upon a bed-pan, peeked out from between the curtains. She leaned too far, and then exclaimed:
“Lan’ sakes, nurse! Nurse, come quick!”
Miss Kexter vanished behind the curtains and Miss Kerr stood stiffly looking out of the window, and Miss Standish placed her suitcase upon the assigned bed and prepared to open it, but footsteps ... male footsteps ... were coming up the corridor, so she hesitated. Dr. Mattus spoke before he was in the ward. In fact he began speaking when he saw Miss Standish standing by the bed.
“Hello! How are you feeling? Any weaker? You are not to sleep in that bed. I want you by the window.”
Then he saw Miss Kerr, and smiled. That smile always saved him verbal battles. It was delivered straightforward and deep into the eyes of the avenging female, whatever her age. Miss Kerr moistened her lips and prepared to resist it, but Miss Kexter had returned from Mrs. Witherspoon’s disaster and Dr. Mattus turned to her quickly.
“Please get Miss Standish undressed immediately, I want to do a physical upon her.”
“I can undress myself, Dr. Mattus.”
“You cannot. Until we can definitely locate your area, the more rest, the better. Remember that, young lady, and be a good patient.”
He smiled at her ... and she returned it ... and Miss Kerr went down the corridor and into the medicine closet door.
Dr. Mattus went for his stethoscope, Miss Kexter went to an insistent telephone and Rose Standish drew the curtains and undressed. Then she folded her best pink rayon panties and undershirt, her chiffon stockings and silk blouse with the rose-point and her plain suit and put them into the small suitcase. On top she placed her hat and patent leather pumps. She put her hairbrush ... the ivory one with heavy bristles which Tony had given her (he had bought it with five dollars an Italian pressed upon him when he delivered the man’s wife in externe-obstetrics) ... onto the bedside table and laid her tooth brush and paste beside it.