the red acorn-第35部分

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Humanity　and　Science　have　done　much　for　the　Army　Hospital；　but　still　its　swinging　doors　wave　two　to　the　tomb　where　they　return　one　to　health　and　activity。

It　was　a　broiling　hot　day　when　Rachel　Bond　descended　from　the　ambulance　which　had　brought　her　from　the　station　to　camp。

She　shielded　her　eyes　with　a　plam…leaf　fan；　and　surveyed　the　surroundings　of　the　post　of　duty　to　which　she　had　been　assigned。　She　found　herself　in　a　little　city　of　rough　plank　barracks；　arranged　in　geometrically　correct　streets　and　angles　about　a　great　plain　of　a　parade　ground；　from　which　the　heat　radiated　as　from　a　glowing　stove。　　A　flag　drooped　as　if　wilted　from　the　top　of　a　tall　pole　standing　on　the　side　of　the　parade…ground　opposite　her。　　Languidly　pacing　in　front　of　the　Colonel's　tent　was　an　Orderly；　who　had　been　selected　in　the　morning　for　his　spruce　neatness；　but　who　now　looked　like　some　enormous　blue　vegetable；　rapidly　withering　under　the　sun's　blistering　rays。

Beyond　were　the　barracks；　baking　and　sweltering；　cracking　their　rough；　unpainted　sides　into　yawning　fissures；　and　filling　the　smothering　air　with　resinous　odors　distilled　from　the　fat　knots　in　the　refuse　planking　of　which　they　were　built。　　Beyond　these　was　the　line　of　camp…guardsbright　gun…barrels　and　bayonets　glistening　painfully；　and　those　who　bore　them　walking　with　as　weary　slowness　as　was　consistent　with　any　motion　whatever；　along　their　beats。

On　straw　in　the　oven…like　barracks；　and　under　the　few　trees　in　the　camp…ground；　lay　the　flushed　and　panting　soldiers；　waiting　wearily　for　that　relief　which　the　descending　sun　would　bring。

The　hospital　to　which　Rachel　had　been　brought　differed　from　the　rest　of　the　sheds　in　the　camp　by　being　whitewashed　within　and　without；　which　made　it　radiate　a　still　more　unendurable　heat　than　its　duller…lustered　companions。　　A　powerful　odor　of　chloride　of　lime　and　carbolic　acid　shocked　her　sensitive　nostrils　with　their　tales　of　all　the　repulsiveness　those　disinfectants　were　intended　to　destroy　or　hide。

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　everybod