seeing her for the first time.
“ When I first came here to work, because of my interest in gerontology and my feeling that this would be a perfect place to study geriatrics, I was determined that the wards would be put to use, for old men and old women who were dependent on charity—of their relatives, of the Old Age Assistance program—not the well-heeled and very plush ‘ guests ’ Ramsey and the Board were interested in, ” he told her quietly. “ But it has been an uphill battle. Of course, Ramsey is the Administrator and the Board is composed of a group of men who financed the place and who are concerned only with how much it can earn for them. So you can see they would not be warmly disposed toward accepting charity patients. ”
“ No, I suppose not, ” Hilary agreed reluctantly, “ but there ’ s just got to be some way that these wards can be put to use. It ’ s—why, it ’ s almost criminal to have them standing here empty when every bed is so badly needed in every hospital in the state! We ’ ve just got to change Mr. Ramsey ’ s mind for him! ”
Dr. Marsden smiled faintly, his eyes bitter.
“ Well, don ’ t think I haven ’ t tried, so often that he now avoids me when he can. And when we have to have a meeting, he gets through the necessary business as rapidly as he can and then hurries off to an engagement he ’ s just remembered. ”
He scowled into the darkness beyond the windows.
“ I should have resigned, I suppose, but my work here has been interesting and in ma n y ways rewarding. I ’ ve learned a great deal about the problems, the philosophy, diseases of the aged. And of course there is the Clinic, ” he mused aloud. “ Ramsey was very hard to convince about that; but doctors who specialize in gerontology and who were willing to work in a place like this where only the very well-padded existence of wealthy old people offered scope for their studies were, apparently, hard to find. So we compromised; I agreed to come; he agreed to give me an out-patient clinic. ”
Hilary said thoughtfully, “ Somehow, I don ’ t seem to be growing very fond of Mr. Ramsey. ”
Dr. Marsden laughed, genuinely amused.
“ Oh, but you are speaking heresy, my dear girl! ” he protested. “ All women are supposed to be charmed and captivated by our Administrator. ”
Hilary cocked her head, peering up at him from the corner of her eyes.
“ You are, I take it, quoting our beloved Administrator? ” she mocked.
“ Of course—who else? ” He laughed, then sobered. “ I have to admit that he is tremendously successful with the guests here; they flutter and twitter like a covey of birds when he appears. ”
“ I ’ d noticed that, ” Hilary agreed, as they left the ward and walked down the corridor, where the ward maids were moving about, switching on lights, running small carts laden with oddments from the various rooms, getting the place ready for the dinner hour.
As they reached the lobby, Dr. Marsden paused and looked down at Hilary.
“ Thank you for helping me out today. ” There was such sincerity in his voice that Hilary felt her face warm a bit. “ You ’ re quite a girl, Hilary, and a very fine nurse. ”
“ I enjoyed feeling useful for a change, ” Hilary admitted impulsively.
“ But you are being useful on your job here, Miss Westbrook—you mustn ’ t ever forget that, ” Dr. Marsden protested quickly. “ Have you ever thought how eagerly medical science is working to prolong life, and how little attention has been paid to the problems of those whose life span is no longer ‘ three score years and ten ’ ? You and I, and others like us, are doing a useful work. We must believe that or the whole science of geriatrics would fall apart. ”
Hilary nodded and smiled up at him.
“ You ’ re right, of course, ” she agreed, and had no chance to say more, for Mrs. Barton, rustling happily in a very smart black frock, her hair newly done in the T. & C. ’ s
“ When I first came here to work, because of my interest in gerontology and my feeling that this would be a perfect place to study geriatrics, I was determined that the wards would be put to use, for old men and old women who were dependent on charity—of their relatives, of the Old Age Assistance program—not the well-heeled and very plush ‘ guests ’ Ramsey and the Board were interested in, ” he told her quietly. “ But it has been an uphill battle. Of course, Ramsey is the Administrator and the Board is composed of a group of men who financed the place and who are concerned only with how much it can earn for them. So you can see they would not be warmly disposed toward accepting charity patients. ”
“ No, I suppose not, ” Hilary agreed reluctantly, “ but there ’ s just got to be some way that these wards can be put to use. It ’ s—why, it ’ s almost criminal to have them standing here empty when every bed is so badly needed in every hospital in the state! We ’ ve just got to change Mr. Ramsey ’ s mind for him! ”
Dr. Marsden smiled faintly, his eyes bitter.
“ Well, don ’ t think I haven ’ t tried, so often that he now avoids me when he can. And when we have to have a meeting, he gets through the necessary business as rapidly as he can and then hurries off to an engagement he ’ s just remembered. ”
He scowled into the darkness beyond the windows.
“ I should have resigned, I suppose, but my work here has been interesting and in ma n y ways rewarding. I ’ ve learned a great deal about the problems, the philosophy, diseases of the aged. And of course there is the Clinic, ” he mused aloud. “ Ramsey was very hard to convince about that; but doctors who specialize in gerontology and who were willing to work in a place like this where only the very well-padded existence of wealthy old people offered scope for their studies were, apparently, hard to find. So we compromised; I agreed to come; he agreed to give me an out-patient clinic. ”
Hilary said thoughtfully, “ Somehow, I don ’ t seem to be growing very fond of Mr. Ramsey. ”
Dr. Marsden laughed, genuinely amused.
“ Oh, but you are speaking heresy, my dear girl! ” he protested. “ All women are supposed to be charmed and captivated by our Administrator. ”
Hilary cocked her head, peering up at him from the corner of her eyes.
“ You are, I take it, quoting our beloved Administrator? ” she mocked.
“ Of course—who else? ” He laughed, then sobered. “ I have to admit that he is tremendously successful with the guests here; they flutter and twitter like a covey of birds when he appears. ”
“ I ’ d noticed that, ” Hilary agreed, as they left the ward and walked down the corridor, where the ward maids were moving about, switching on lights, running small carts laden with oddments from the various rooms, getting the place ready for the dinner hour.
As they reached the lobby, Dr. Marsden paused and looked down at Hilary.
“ Thank you for helping me out today. ” There was such sincerity in his voice that Hilary felt her face warm a bit. “ You ’ re quite a girl, Hilary, and a very fine nurse. ”
“ I enjoyed feeling useful for a change, ” Hilary admitted impulsively.
“ But you are being useful on your job here, Miss Westbrook—you mustn ’ t ever forget that, ” Dr. Marsden protested quickly. “ Have you ever thought how eagerly medical science is working to prolong life, and how little attention has been paid to the problems of those whose life span is no longer ‘ three score years and ten ’ ? You and I, and others like us, are doing a useful work. We must believe that or the whole science of geriatrics would fall apart. ”
Hilary nodded and smiled up at him.
“ You ’ re right, of course, ” she agreed, and had no chance to say more, for Mrs. Barton, rustling happily in a very smart black frock, her hair newly done in the T. & C. ’ s
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