Page:Saxe Holm's Stories, Series Two.djvu/279

Rh they proposed to distribute indiscriminately among the patients, they looked at each other again and again, and said:— "Would you have believed women were such geese?"

"Did you tell those women that Doctor Hale's strict orders were that no one should be admitted to the wards without a pass from him?" exclaimed Sarah one day, indignantly, to the sentry.

"Indeed ma'am, and I did," he replied, "but it did n't stop her. She said she knew Doctor Hale very well, and he would let her go in."

"But they must not go in," persisted Sarah. "It is against orders."

"What am I to do ma'am?" said the sentry.

"Put your bayonet straight across the door, and hold it there, John," said Sarah.

"Ah, ma'am, an I could n't to a woman. If it was a man I could; but I could n't to a woman. Besides, she 'd jump over."

The next time, however, John tried it. Sarah heard a parley and flew to her door to reënforce John by the moral support of her countenance.

What to her horror did she see? Her own aunt, Mrs. Winthrop, red with rage, and Clara behind her, both abusing the poor sentry in no measured terms, and threatening to report him for insolence.

"I am in charge of the diet kitchen," said Clara, "and my mother can go where she pleases in this Hospital."