” He obviously was speaking his thoughts aloud; his brows were drawn together in a scowl. “ But the county hospital is overcrowded, and he ’ s not eligible for Grady Memorial, in Atlanta. ”
He struck his clenched fist unexpectedly on his desk, and his eyes were cold and hard.
“ And when I think of these two empty wards here, all fitted up and equipped and empty —”
Hilary ’ s eyes widened.
“ We have two empty wards here, and you can ’ t bring a patient like this Mr. Carter here where you can take care of him? ” she protested, amazed.
Dr. Marsden ’ s smile was tight-lipped and grim, his eyes stormy.
“ Mr. Ramsey feels it would ‘ lower the tone ’ of the Town and Country Retirement Club if it was known that we have charity patients in the wards, ” he said dryly. “ And Mr. Ramsey sets great store by the ‘ tone ’ of the T. & C. ”
“ Have you asked— ” Hilary began.
“ Asked? I ’ ve practically gone down on my knees, begging him. But he just smiles and says, ‘ Oh, I don ’ t think that would be wise, Dr. Marsden. I ’ m afraid our paying guests would resent it. ’”
“ I think that ’ s outrageous, ” protested Hilary warmly.
“ So do I. ” His tone was grim and hard.
“ But surely there must be some way he can be persuaded to change his mind. Surely if he realized that a man ’ s life depended on his being here, whether he can pay or not— ”
“ He realizes it. Don ’ t think I haven ’ t made it quite clear, brutally clear, ” Dr. Marsden told her, “ But he just goes on saying that there are places like Grady Memorial and the county hospital for the care of ‘ indigent patients ’ and walks away. ”
Outside, in the out-patients ’ reception room, there was a small pearl-topped button beneath a sign that said, “ Please ring and be seated. ” The bell buzzed now, and Hilary stood up, whisking the tray out of sight, casting a swift glance about the office and the examination room, before she went out to receive the first patient. But throughout the busy afternoon, Dr. Marsden ’ s words kept echoing and re-echoing in her ears, and when the final patient had been ushered out into the cold, gray dusk, she came back to Dr. Marsden.
“ Where are these two wards you were talking about? ” she asked.
Dr. Marsden grinned ruefully at her.
“ It won ’ t do any good— ” he began.
“ Who can say? ” Hilary interrupted briskly. “ At least show them to me. ”
Dr. Marsden shrugged and walked with her out into the lobby and down the corridor along the men ’ s section of the club to a door at the very end which he opened, standing back for Hilary to precede him.
The ward was big, airy, everything Hilary had been taught that a hospital ward should be.
“ This was meant to be the men ’ s ward, ” Dr. Marsden explained; “ for men not financially able to pay fees charged for a private room and bath and who needed bed rest and medical care. But Mr. Ramsey and the board decided that the expense of such care would offset any reduced rates that the patient might be able to pay, so the wards have never been used. The one for women is at the other end of the corridor. ”
Hilary looked about her. Everything was so neat, so clean, so empty!
“ And there are people like Thad Carter who desperately need hospital care, and all this going to waste! ” she said hotly.
“ It ’ s maddening, I admit, ” said Dr. Marsden grimly. “ But Ramsey is the boss. And of course the Board backs him to the limit. After all, the whole idea of the T. & C. was his, and he worked for fifteen years to raise the money; so I suppose it ’ s natural he would be opposed to anything he feels might make it less exclusive. ”
“ But it ’ s inhuman! ” she protested warmly.
Dr. Marsden smiled down at her.
“ You feel that, too? ” he asked.
“ How else would I, a nurse, feel? ”
He nodded, his eyes on her warm and interested, almost as though he were
He struck his clenched fist unexpectedly on his desk, and his eyes were cold and hard.
“ And when I think of these two empty wards here, all fitted up and equipped and empty —”
Hilary ’ s eyes widened.
“ We have two empty wards here, and you can ’ t bring a patient like this Mr. Carter here where you can take care of him? ” she protested, amazed.
Dr. Marsden ’ s smile was tight-lipped and grim, his eyes stormy.
“ Mr. Ramsey feels it would ‘ lower the tone ’ of the Town and Country Retirement Club if it was known that we have charity patients in the wards, ” he said dryly. “ And Mr. Ramsey sets great store by the ‘ tone ’ of the T. & C. ”
“ Have you asked— ” Hilary began.
“ Asked? I ’ ve practically gone down on my knees, begging him. But he just smiles and says, ‘ Oh, I don ’ t think that would be wise, Dr. Marsden. I ’ m afraid our paying guests would resent it. ’”
“ I think that ’ s outrageous, ” protested Hilary warmly.
“ So do I. ” His tone was grim and hard.
“ But surely there must be some way he can be persuaded to change his mind. Surely if he realized that a man ’ s life depended on his being here, whether he can pay or not— ”
“ He realizes it. Don ’ t think I haven ’ t made it quite clear, brutally clear, ” Dr. Marsden told her, “ But he just goes on saying that there are places like Grady Memorial and the county hospital for the care of ‘ indigent patients ’ and walks away. ”
Outside, in the out-patients ’ reception room, there was a small pearl-topped button beneath a sign that said, “ Please ring and be seated. ” The bell buzzed now, and Hilary stood up, whisking the tray out of sight, casting a swift glance about the office and the examination room, before she went out to receive the first patient. But throughout the busy afternoon, Dr. Marsden ’ s words kept echoing and re-echoing in her ears, and when the final patient had been ushered out into the cold, gray dusk, she came back to Dr. Marsden.
“ Where are these two wards you were talking about? ” she asked.
Dr. Marsden grinned ruefully at her.
“ It won ’ t do any good— ” he began.
“ Who can say? ” Hilary interrupted briskly. “ At least show them to me. ”
Dr. Marsden shrugged and walked with her out into the lobby and down the corridor along the men ’ s section of the club to a door at the very end which he opened, standing back for Hilary to precede him.
The ward was big, airy, everything Hilary had been taught that a hospital ward should be.
“ This was meant to be the men ’ s ward, ” Dr. Marsden explained; “ for men not financially able to pay fees charged for a private room and bath and who needed bed rest and medical care. But Mr. Ramsey and the board decided that the expense of such care would offset any reduced rates that the patient might be able to pay, so the wards have never been used. The one for women is at the other end of the corridor. ”
Hilary looked about her. Everything was so neat, so clean, so empty!
“ And there are people like Thad Carter who desperately need hospital care, and all this going to waste! ” she said hotly.
“ It ’ s maddening, I admit, ” said Dr. Marsden grimly. “ But Ramsey is the boss. And of course the Board backs him to the limit. After all, the whole idea of the T. & C. was his, and he worked for fifteen years to raise the money; so I suppose it ’ s natural he would be opposed to anything he feels might make it less exclusive. ”
“ But it ’ s inhuman! ” she protested warmly.
Dr. Marsden smiled down at her.
“ You feel that, too? ” he asked.
“ How else would I, a nurse, feel? ”
He nodded, his eyes on her warm and interested, almost as though he were
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