CHAPTER XV
THE PUSH BUTTON
Mrs. Hale contemplated Anna, the waitress, with marked disapproval.
“You should not attempt to exert yourself until Dr. McLane gives you permission,” she announced, with severity.
“Dr. McLane told me to walk about as much as possible, madam.” Anna’s manner was respectful almost to the point of servility. “He promised to be here this afternoon. Indeed, Mrs. Hale, I’ll be careful. Don’t worry, madam.”
“I suppose the doctor knows what he is about”—Mrs. Hale, however, looked extremely doubtful as she spoke. Her own attacks of illness were distinct trials to every member of her family, as her chronic objection to following the doctor’s orders or taking his medicines generally retarded her recovery and produced a wish that “the Old Scratch” would get her, that opinion having been voiced by a long-suffering trained nurse, whose training had not included a course in insults.
“Dr. McLane is sometimes inclined to error,” Mrs. Hale continued after a slight pause. “Don’t take his directions too literally, Anna. Modify them. If he said walk about for an hour, cut it to one half. And never take a full dose of anything prescribed, reduce it by one half.”
“Yes, madam; thank you,” and Anna executed a bob of a courtesy in spite of her injured ankle. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No, I think not. Now, mind what I say, don’t overexert yourself.”
“Yes, madam,” and Anna started for the door only to be called back by Mrs. Hale.
“As you go downstairs please tell Maud that Mr. Latimer will lunch with us—that is, I think he will, but he hasn’t answered my telephone message.” Mrs. Hale thought a minute. “Maud can put a place for him.”