the red acorn-第31章

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Several　dejected；　hollow…eyed　convalescents；　whose　uniforms　hung　about　their　wasted　bodies　as　they　would　about　wooden　crosses；　sat　on　benches　in　the　scanty　shade　by　one　side　of　the　building；　and　fanned　themselves　weakly　with　fans　clumsily　fashioned　from　old　newspapers。　　They　looked　up　as　the　trim；　lady…like　figure　stepped　lightly　down　from　the　ambulance；　and　the　long…absent　luster　returned　briefly　to　their　sad　eyes。

〃That　looks　like　home；　Jim；〃　said　one　of　the　fever…wasted。

〃That　it　does。　　Lord！　she　looks　as　fresh　and　sweet　as　the　Johnny…jump…ups　down　by　our　old　spring…house。　　I　expect　she's　come　down　here　to　find　somebody　that　belongs　to　her　that's　sick。　　Don't　I　wish　it　was　me！〃

〃I　wouldn't　mind　being　a　brother；　or　a　cousin；　or　a　sweetheart　to　her　myself。　　That'd　be　better　luck　than　to　be　given　a　sutler…shop。　Just　see　her　move！　　She's　got　a　purtier　gait　than　our　thoroughbred　colt。〃

〃IT　does　one's　eyes　good　to　look　at　her。　　It　makes　me　feel　better　than　a　cart…load　of　the　stuff　that　old　Pillbags　forces　down　our　throats。〃

〃You're　a…talking。　　She's　a　ladyevery　inch　of　hergenuine；　simon…pure；　fast　colors；　all…wool；　a　yard　wide；　as　fine　as　silk；　and　bright　a　a　May　morning。〃

〃And　as　wholesome　as　Spring　sunshine。〃

All　unconscious　that　her　appearance　was　to　the　invalids　who　looked　upon　her　like　a　sweet；　health…giving　breeze　bursting　through　a　tainted　atmosphere；　Rachel　passed　wearily　along　the　burning　walks　toward　the　Surgeon's　office；　with　a　growing　heart…sickness　at　the　unwelcome　appearance　of　the　task　she　had　elected　for　herself。

The　journey　had　been　full　of　irritating　discomforts。　　Heat；　dust；　and　soiled　linen　are　only　annoyances　to　a　man；　they　are　real　miseries　to　a　woman。　　The　marvel　is　not　that　Joan　of　Arc　dared　the　perils　of　battle；　but　that　she　endured　the　continued　wretchedness　of　camp　uncleanliness；　to　the　triumphant　end。

With　her　throat　parched；　garments　〃sticky；〃　hair；　eyes；　ears　and　nostrils　filled　with　irritating　dust；　and　a　feeling　that　collar　and　cuffs　were；　as　ladies　phrase　it；　〃a　sight　to　behold；〃　Rachel's　heoric　enthusiasm　ebbed　to　the　bottom。　　Ushered　into　the　Surgeon's　office　she　was　presented　to　a　red…faced；　harsh…eyed　man；　past　the　middle　age；　who　neither　rose　nor　apologized　to　her　for　being　discovered　in　the　undress　of　a　hot　day。　　He　montioned　her　to　a　seat　with　the　wave　of　the　fan　he　was　vigorously　using；　and　taking　her　letter　of　introduction；　adjusted　eye…glasses　upon　a　ripe…colored　nose；　and　read　it　with　a　scowl　that　rippled　his　face　with　furrows。

〃So　you're　the　first　of　the　women　nurses　that's　to　be　assigned　to　me；〃　he　said　ungraciously；　after　finishing　the　letter；　and　scanning　her　severely　for　a　moment　over　the　top　of　his　glasses。　　〃I　suppose　I　have　to　have　'em。〃

The　manner　hurt　Rachel　even　more　than　the　words。　　Before　she　could　frame　a　reply　he　continued：

〃I　don't　take　much　stock　in　this　idea　of　women　nurses；　especially　when　they're　young　and　pretty。〃　　He　scowled　at　Rachel　as　if　she　had　committed　a　crime　in　being　young　and　beautiful。　　〃But　the　country's　full　of　women　with　a　Quixotic　notion　of　being　Florence　Nightingales；　and　they've　badgered　the　Government　into　accepting　their　services。　I　suppose　I'll　have　to　take　my　share　of　them。　　Ever　nursed？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　responded　Rachel；　compressing　as　much　ahughtiness　as　possible　into　the　answer。

〃Of　course　not。　　Girls　at　your　age　are　not　at　all　likely　to　know　anything　that　is　useful；　and　least　of　all　how　to　nurse　a　sick　man。　　I　hardly　know　which　is　the　worst；　a　young　one　who　don't　know　anything；　or　a　middle…aged　one　who　thinks　she　knows　it　all；　and　continually　interferes　with　the　management　of　a　case。　　I　believe　though；　I'd　rather　have　had　the　middle…aged　one　to　start　with。　She'd　be　more　likely　to　tend　to　her　business；　and　not　have　her　head　turned　by　the　attentions　of　the　good…looking　young　officers　who　swarm　around　her。　　Mind；　I'll　not　allow　any　flirting　here。〃

Rachel's　face　crimsoned。　　〃You　forget　yourself；〃　she　said；　cuttingly；　〃or　perhaps　you　have　nothing　to　forget。　　At　least；　man　an　effort　to　remember　that　I'm　a　lady。〃

The　bristly　eyebrows　straightened　down　to　a　level　line　over　the　small　blue　eyes；　and　unpleasant　furrows　drew　themselves　around　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　　〃YOU　forget；〃　he　said；　〃that　if　you　enter　upon　these　duties　you　are　in　the　military　service　and　subject　to　your　superior　officers。　　You　forget　the　necessity　of　the　most　rigid　discipline；　and　that　it　is　my　duty　to　explain　and　enforce　this。〃

〃I　certainly　expect　to　obey　orders；〃　said　Rachel；　a　little　overawed。

〃You　may　rightly　expect　to；〃　he　answere　with　a　slight　sneer；　〃because　it　will　be　a　matter　of　necessityyou　will　have　to。　　We　must　have　instant　and　unquestioning　obedience　to　orders　here；　as　well　as　everywhere　else　in　the　Army；　or　it　would　be　like　a　rope　of　sandof　no　strength　whateverno　strength；　whatever。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　answered　Rachel；　depressed　even　more　by　th　apparition　of　martial　law　than　she　had　been　by　the　heat。

〃And　what　I　have　been　telling　you　is　only　the　beginning；〃　continued　the　Surgeon；　noting　the　effect　of　his　words；　and　exulting　in　their　humbling　power。　　〃The　cornerstone　of　everything　military　is　obedienceprompt；　unfailing　obedience；　by　everybody；　soldier　or　officer；　to　his　superiors。　　Without　it…〃

〃Major　Moxon；〃　said　an　officer；　entering　and　saluting；　〃the　General　presents　his　compliments；　and　desires　to　know　why　his　repeated　orders　in　regard　to　the　furloughing　of　men　have　been　so　persistently　disregarded。〃

〃Because；〃　said　the　Surgeon；　getting　purplish…red　about　the　cheeks　and　nose；　〃　because　the　matter's　one　which　I　consider　outside　of　his　provincebeyond　his　control；　sir。　　I　am　Chief　of　the　Medical　Department；　as　you　are　perhaps　aware；　sir。〃

〃We　presumed　that　you　were　taking　that　view　of　the　matter；　from　your　course；〃　answered　the　Aide　calmly。　　〃I　am　not　here　to　argue　the　matter　with　you；　but　simply　to　direct　you　to　consider　yourself　under　arrest。　　Charges　are　being　prepared　against　you；　to　which　I　will　add　specifications　based　on　this　interview。　　Good　afternoon；　sir。〃　　The　Aide　saluted　stiffly　and　moved　away；　leaving　the　Surgeon　in　a　state　of　collapse　at　the　prospect　of　what　he　had　brought　upon　himself　by　his　injudicious　contumacy。　　Mis　Rachel　was　in　that　state　of　wonderment　that　comes　to　pupils　at　seeing　their　teachers　rebel　agains　their　own　precepts。　　The　Surgeon　was　too　much　engrossed　in　his　own　affairs　to　pay　farther　heed　to　her。　　He　tapped　a　bell。

〃Orderly；〃　he　said；　to　the　soldier　who　responded；　〃conduct　this　young　woman　to　Dr。　Denslow。　　Inform　him　that　she　is　to　be　with　us　as　a　nurse；　and　ask　him　to　be　kind　enough　to　assign　her　suitable　quarters。　　Good　afternoon；　ma'am。〃

In　another　office；　much　smaller　and　far　less　luxuriously　furnished；　she　found　Dr。　Denslow；　a　hazel…eyed；　brown…bearded　man　of　thirty；　whose　shoulder…straps　bore　the　modest　bars　of　Captain。　　The　reader　has　already　made　his　acquaintance。　　He　received　her　with　the　pleasant；　manly　sympathy　for　her　sex；　which　had　already　made　him　one　of　the　most　popular　of　family　physicians　in　the　city　where　he　was　practicing　at　the　outbreak　of　the　war。

Rachel's　depressed　spirits　rose　again　at　his　cordial　reception。

〃I　am　so　busy；〃　he　said；　after　a　brief　exchange　of　commonplaces；　〃that　I'll　not　have　the　time　to　give　you　much　information　this　afternoon　as　to　your　duties；　and　I　know　that　you　are　so　fatigued　with　your　journey　and　the　heat　that　you　will　not　care　to　do　anything　but　rest　and　refresh　yourself。　　I　will　therefore　show　you　immediately　to　your　quarters。〃

〃This　will　be　your　field　of　labor；〃　he　said；　as　he　led　her　down　the　long　aisle　between　rows　of　cots　toward　her　room。　　〃It's　not　a　cheerful　one　to　contemplate　at　first。　　Human　suffering　is　always　a　depressing　spectacle；　and　you　will　see　here　more　of　it　and　more　varied　agony　than　you　can　find　anywhere　outside　of　an　army　hospital's　walls。　　But　as　the　deed　is　so　is　the　duty；　and　the　glory　of　doing　it。　　To　one　who　wants　to　serve　God　and　his　fellow…creatureswhich　I　take　it　is　the　highest　form　of　religionhere　is　an　opportunity　that　he　may　bless　God　for　giving　him。　　Here　he　can　earn　a　brighter　crown　than　is　given　them　who　die　at　the　stake　for　opinion's　sake。〃

So　earnest　was　his　enthusiasm　that　Rac