The patients liked to call Effie to smooth their sheets, to turn their pillows, to give them their drinks. One or two of them, when they had an odd moment, began to make little confidences to her.117 She learned their histories almost at a glance. She also studied their fancies; she began to find out the exact way Mrs. Robinson liked her gruel5 flavored, and how Mrs. Guiers liked her pillows arranged. Effie made no fuss over the patients,—fuss and favoritism were strongly against the rules,—but notwithstanding, she was a favorite herself.
More than one pair of tired eyes looked at her with longing7 and refreshment8 as she passed, and more than one pair of wearied lips smiled when she came near.
Two months went by in this fashion—very, very quickly, as such busy months must. It was found impossible to allow Effie to go home every Sunday, but she went, as a rule, every second one.
Things seemed to be going fairly straight at home. The extravagance she had noticed on her first Sunday was not repeated to the same extent. Mrs. Staunton seemed decidedly better, and Effie gave herself up with a thankful heart to her work.
It was now the middle of winter, close upon Christmas-time. The weather outside was bitterly cold, although, in the ward9, Effie scarcely felt this. She wore her neat lilac print dress just the same in winter as in summer.
One day, about a week before Christmas, when a thick yellow fog was shutting out all the view from the high ward windows, Effie was doing something for No. 47, a poor, tired-looking woman of the name of Martin, when Lawson, the young medical student, came suddenly into the ward. He had been sent by the house physician to take notes on a certain case. This case happened to be the very one which Effie was attending. When he saw Effie a peculiar10 expression passed over his face. It was against the strictest of all rules for the medical students ever to address a118 word to the probationers; even the necessary duties required of them had to be conveyed through a Sister or a ward nurse. Effie was helping11 poor No. 47 to drink a little milk and soda12 water. As she put the glass back in its place, Lawson came close to her. He said abruptly13:
"I am very anxious to have a conversation with you about George."
She colored crimson14 when he addressed her.
"Yes," she said.
"Nurse!" exclaimed Sister Kate's voice at that moment, in a harsh, sharp tone, "go at once and make up the fire at the other end of the room."
Effie went off, trembling and disturbed.
The fact of Lawson having specially15 addressed her passed out of her mind immediately, but the mention of George's name filled her with fear.
It was the first time in her hospital life that she absolutely forgot the rules laid down for her conduct. Sister Kate, who had the eyes of a hawk16, noticed when Lawson bent17 over to speak to the pretty little probationer. It was her duty to correct the faintest attempt at flirting18 on the part of the probationers and medical students. She felt shocked at Effie, who was fast becoming a favorite of hers, permitting such a thing for a moment, and, when next Effie had anything to do for her, quite resumed her icy manner toward her.
No. 47 required some special attention again that evening—she was feverish19, and not going on well. She called Effie to her side in an eager voice.
"You might turn my pillow again for me, dear," she said. "You know how to hitch20 it right under the small of my back, better than any of those other nurses. There now, that's better. Stoop your head a bit, love. I believe if you go downstairs into the hall119 near the surgery, you are safe to see that young doctor; he is sure to be in the dispensary about this time, and you might catch him when he is going out."
"Hush21!" said Effie. "I know you mean kindly22, but you ought not to talk like that."
"Oh, my love, I know, I know," said the woman, with a wink23. "We was all young once—I am three-and-forty, and have never had a mate. I missed my chance when I was young. Don't you miss yours, nurse."
Effie turned pale with indignation; but then, seeing that the woman meant kindly, she tried to smile.
"I am very much obliged to you," she said, "but things aren't a bit the way you think." She then went off to perform her other duties.
Sister Kate spoke24 to her sharply.
"Nurse," she said, "I hope you remember the rule which forbids favoritism—I noticed that you stayed longer than was necessary with No. 47."
"She complained a good deal of her back, Sister, and I was arranging her pillows for her."
"Don't try to deceive me," said Sister Kate. "You know perfectly26 well that you did not spend all that time arranging a pillow. Now, go and help to bring up the teas."
Effie turned to her duties with a tingling27 sensation in her eyes.
It was the first time since her arrival at St. Joseph's that her work seemed almost impossible to her. Her heart quite ached with longing to know what Lawson had meant. What had he to tell her about George? As she thought, her fears grew120 greater and her memory of the hospital rules less and less.
She determined28 at any risk to try and see Lawson that evening. It would be impossible for her to venture down into the central hall of the hospital, but she knew for certain that he would come into the ward again late that evening.
Sister Kate would be off duty at nine o'clock, and Sister Alice, the night superintendent29, was not nearly so strict. Effie hovered30 about near the door; she knew she was disobeying rules, for she ought to have gone to bed soon after nine o'clock. No one noticed her, however. The night nurses were all busy taking up their different duties, and Sister Alice was talking to the house physician at the farther end of the ward.
Suddenly Effie, standing6 near one of the doors, saw Lawson coming upstairs; she ran to him without a moment's hesitation31. "What have you to tell me about George?" she said.
He colored, and looked almost annoyed when she spoke to him.
"I cannot tell you here," he said in a hasty voice. "Are you going home next Sunday?"
"No; it's my Sunday in—unless I could get one of the other probationers to change with me."
"I wish you would manage to do that; I really want to see you very badly. If you'll go home on Sunday, I'll call in the course of the afternoon, and then I can walk back with you to the hospital. Now, go at once—you must not be seen talking to me."
Effie flew down the corridor to her own little room.
That night she could scarcely sleep; she felt oppressed with all kinds of forebodings. The idea of her having broken one of the rules, and, in fact, laid121 herself open to dismissal, never once entered into her head.
She was still the faithful nurse—the earnest-minded, gentle, good girl, who would give up her whole life to the alleviation32 of the sufferings of others. The fact of Effie having a dual33 life, of having a nature which could not forget the old home ties, was not likely, however, to be recognized in the hospital.
The next morning at breakfast she noticed that one or two of the probationers giggled34 a little when they saw her. She sat down in her usual seat, and one of the girls nudged her elbow.
"Well," she said, "you're no better than the rest of us."
"What in the world do you mean?" said Effie, coloring scarlet35.
"Oh, don't be so sly!" said the girl, with a poke25 which she intended to make playful. "He is a very good-looking young fellow, too; only, if you don't want to get into mischief36, don't let Sister Kate see it."
"I know what you mean," said Effie in a steady voice; "but you are altogether mistaken. I scarcely know Mr. Lawson; he only spoke to me yesterday because he happened to be a great friend of my brother's."
"Oh, the usual thing," laughed the girl. "It's so very convenient to have brothers; is it not, Lucy?"
The girl addressed as Lucy grinned, and Effie felt very uncomfortable.
At dinner that day, it suddenly passed through her mind that she must, by hook or by crook37, induce one of the probationers to change Sundays with her. Lucy was usually a good-natured girl. Her people did not live in town; as a rule she spent her122 Sundays out with her aunt-in-law. Effie went up to her when she had a moment to spare.
"Lucy," she said, "I wish you would do something for me."
"To be sure I will, Effie," she replied—"anything in my power."
"I want to go home very badly next Sunday; do you think it would be possible for me to change with you?"
"Heigh-ho!" said Lucy, "You want to meet Mr. Lawson; I know your sly little ways."
"No, indeed, it is not true," began Effie; but then she stopped, for she knew it was true. She would meet him. "Oh, how little Lucy knows the burden that is pressing on me!" thought the poor girl.
Tears suddenly rose to her pretty brown eyes.
"I cannot explain things to you," she said; "I would if I could. You must believe in me and trust me. I have a great deal of anxiety. Oh, it has nothing to do with the hospital; it is about my home life. There is a great burden laid upon me. I want very much to go home on Sunday. Indeed, Mr. Lawson has little to do with the real burden, only I believe he can tell me something."
"I know you are a good girl," began Lucy, who became grave on the spot. "Of course you shall take my turn if Sister Kate will allow it."
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1
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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3
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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gruel
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| n.稀饭，粥 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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7
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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8
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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9
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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10
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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13
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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14
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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15
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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17
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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18
flirting
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
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19
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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20
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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21
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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24
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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25
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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26
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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27
tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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29
superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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30
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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31
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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32
alleviation
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| n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物 | |
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33
dual
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| adj.双的；二重的，二元的 | |
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34
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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36
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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37
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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