"I've always had things pretty hard here," she commented briefly. "When I
go out, I'll either be competent enough to run a whole hospital
singlehanded, or I'll be carried out feet first."
Sidney was glad to have her so near. She knew her better than she knew the
other nurses. Small emergencies were constantly arising and finding her at
a loss. Once at least every night, Miss Harrison would hear a soft hiss
from the back staircase that connected the two floors, and, going out,
would see Sidney's flushed face and slightly crooked cap bending over the
stair-rail.
"I'm dreadfully sorry to bother you," she would say, "but So-and-So won't
have a fever bath"; or, "I've a woman here who refuses her medicine." Then
would follow rapid questions and equally rapid answers. Much as Carlotta
disliked and feared the girl overhead, it never occurred to her to refuse
her assistance. Perhaps the angels who keep the great record will put that
to her credit.
Sidney saw her first death shortly after she went on night duty. It was the
most terrible experience of all her life; and yet, as death goes, it was
quiet enough. So gradual was it that Sidney, with K.'s little watch in
hand, was not sure exactly when it happened. The light was very dim behind
the little screen. One moment the sheet was quivering slightly under the
struggle for breath, the next it was still. That was all. But to the girl
it was catastrophe. That life, so potential, so tremendous a thing, could
end so ignominiously, that the long battle should terminate always in this
capitulation--it seemed to her that she could not stand it. Added to all
her other new problems of living was this one of dying.
She made mistakes, of course, which the kindly nurses forgot to
report--basins left about, errors on her records. She rinsed her
thermometer in hot water one night, and startled an interne by sending him
word that Mary McGuire's temperature was a hundred and ten degrees. She
let a delirious patient escape from the ward another night and go airily
down the fire-escape before she discovered what had happened! Then she
distinguished herself by flying down the iron staircase and bringing the
runaway back single-handed.
For Christine's wedding the Street threw off its drab attire and assumed a
wedding garment. In the beginning it was incredulous about some of the
details.
"An awning from the house door to the curbstone, and a policeman!" reported
Mrs. Rosenfeld, who was finding steady employment at the Lorenz house.
"And another awning at the church, with a red carpet!"