round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第41章
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politeness； but the grim severity of his face showed how formal was the
courtesy。 In fact； his dislike was rapidly deepening into absolute
detestation。 〃The unsexed woman；〃 was the description of her which he
permitted himself to give to those of his patients who still remained
staunch。 But； indeed； they were a rapidly…decreasing body； and every
day his pride was galled by the news of some fresh defection。 The lady
had somehow impressed the country folk with almost superstitious belief
in her power； and from far and near they flocked to her consulting room。
But what galled him most of all was； when she did something which
he had pronounced to be impracticable。 For all his knowledge he lacked
nerve as an operator； and usually sent his worst cases up to London。 The
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lady； however； had no weakness of the sort； and took everything that came
in her way。 It was agony to him to hear that she was about to straighten
little Alec Turner's club foot； and right at the fringe of the rumour came a
note from his mother； the rector's wife； asking him if he would be so good
as to act as chloroformist。 It would be inhumanity to refuse； as there was
no other who could take the place； but it was gall and wormwood to his
sensitive nature。 Yet； in spite of his vexation； he could not but admire the
dexterity with which the thing was done。 She handled the little wax…like
foot so gently； and held the tiny tenotomy knife as an artist holds his
pencil。 One straight insertion； one snick of a tendon； and it was all over
without a stain upon the white towel which lay beneath。 He had never
seen anything more masterly； and he had the honesty to say so； though her
skill increased his dislike of her。 The operation spread her fame still
further at his expense； and self…preservation was added to his other
grounds for detesting her。 And this very detestation it was which brought
matters to a curious climax。
One winter's night； just as he was rising from his lonely dinner； a
groom came riding down from Squire Faircastle's； the richest man in the
district； to say that his daughter had scalded her hand； and that medical
help was needed on the instant。 The coachman had ridden for the lady
doctor； for it mattered nothing to the Squire who came as long as it were
speedily。 Dr。 Ripley rushed from his surgery with the determination that
she should not effect an entrance into this stronghold of his if hard driving
on his part could prevent it。 He did not even wait to light his lamps； but
sprang into his gig and flew off as fast as hoof could rattle。 He lived
rather nearer to the Squire's than she did； and was convinced that he could
get there well before her。
And so he would but for that whimsical element of chance； which will
for ever muddle up the affairs of this world and dumbfound the prophets。
Whether it came from the want of his lights； or from his mind being full of
the thoughts of his rival； he allowed too little by half a foot in taking the
sharp turn upon the Basingstoke road。 The empty trap and the frightened
horse clattered away into the darkness； while the Squire's groom crawled
out of the ditch into which he had been shot。 He struck a match； looked
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down at his groaning companion； and then； after the fashion of rough；
strong men when they see what they have not seen before； he was very
sick。
The doctor raised himself a little on his elbow in the glint of the match。
He caught a glimpse of something white and sharp bristling through his
trouser leg half way down the shin。
〃Compound！〃 he groaned。 〃A three months' job；〃 and fainted。
When he came to himself the groom was gone； for he had scudded off
to the Squire's house for help； but a small page was holding a gig…lamp in
front of his injured leg； and a woman； with an open case of polished
instruments gleaming in the yellow light； was deftly slitting up his trouser
with a crooked pair of scissors。
〃It's all right； doctor；〃 said she soothingly。 〃I am so sorry about it。
You can have Dr。 Horton to… morrow； but I am sure you will allow me to
help you to…night。 I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw you by the
roadside。〃
〃The groom has gone for help；〃 groaned the sufferer。
〃When it comes we can move you into the gig。 A little more light；
John！ So！ Ah； dear； dear； we shall have laceration unless we reduce
this before we move you。 Allow me to give you a whiff of chloroform；
and I have no doubt that I can secure it sufficiently to〃
Dr。 Ripley never heard the end of that sentence。 He tried to raise a
hand and to murmur something in protest； but a sweet smell was in his
nostrils； and a sense of rich peace and lethargy stole over his jangled
nerves。 Down he sank； through clear； cool water； ever down and down
into the green shadows beneath； gently； without effort； while the pleasant
chiming of a great belfry rose and fell in his ears。 Then he rose again； up
and up； and ever up； with a terrible tightness about his temples； until at last
he shot out of those green shadows and was in the light once more。 Two
bright； shining； golden spots gleamed before his dazed eyes。 He blinked
and blinked before he could give a name to them。 They were only the
two brass balls at the end posts of his bed； and he was lying in his own
little room； with a head like a cannon ball； and a leg like an iron bar。
Turning his eyes； he saw the calm face of Dr。 Verrinder Smith looking
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down at him。
〃Ah； at last！〃 said she。 〃I kept you under all the way home； for I
knew how painful the jolting would be。 It is in good position now with a
strong side splint。 I have ordered a morphia draught for you。 Shall I
tell your groom to ride for Dr。 Horton in the morning？〃
〃I should prefer that you should continue the case；〃 said Dr。 Ripley
feebly； and then； with a half hysterical laugh；〃You have all the rest of the
parish as patients； you know； so you may as well make the thing complete
by having me also。〃
It was not a very gracious speech； but it was a look of pity and not of
anger which shone in her eyes as she turned away from his bedside。
Dr。 Ripley had a brother； William； who was assistant surgeon at a
London hospital； and who was down in Hampshire within a few hours of
his hearing of the accident。 He raised his brows when he heard the
details。
〃What！ You are pestered with one of those！〃 he cried。
〃I don't know what I should have done without her。〃
I've no doubt she's an excellent nurse。〃
〃She knows her work as well as you or I。〃
〃Speak for yourself； James；〃 said the London man with a sniff。 〃But
apart from that； you know that the principle of the thing is all wrong。〃
〃You think there is nothing to be said on the other side？〃
〃Good heavens！ do you？〃
〃Well； I don't know。 It struck me during the night that we may have
been a little narrow in our views。〃
〃Nonsense； James。 It's all very fine for women to win prizes in the
lecture room； but you know as well as I do that they are no use in an
emergency。 Now I warrant that this woman was all nerves when she was
setting your leg。 That reminds me that I had better just take a look at it
and see that it is all right。〃
〃I would rather that you did not undo it；〃 said the patient。 〃I have her
assurance that it is all right。〃
Brother William was deeply shocked。
〃Of course； if a woman's assurance is of more value than the opinion
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of the assistant surgeon of a London hospital； there is nothing more to be
said；〃 he remarked。
〃I should prefer that you did not touch it；〃 said the patient firmly； and
Dr。 William went back to London that evening in a huff。
The lady； who had heard of his coming； was much surprised on
learning his departure。
〃We had a difference upon a point of professional etiquette；〃 said Dr。
James； and it was all the explanation he would vouchsafe。
For two long months Dr。 Ripley was brought in contact with his rival
every day； and he learned many things which he had not known before。
She was a charming companion； as well as a most assiduous doctor。 Her
short presence during the long； weary day was like a flower in a sand
waste。 What interested him was precisely what interested her； and she
could meet him at every point upon equal terms。 And yet under all her
learning and her firmness ran a sweet； womanly nature； peeping out in her
talk； shining in her greenish eyes； showing itself in a thousand subtle ways
which the dullest of men could read。 And he； though a bit of a prig and a
pedant； was by no means dull； and had honesty enough to confess when he
was in the wrong。
〃I don't know how to apologise to you；〃 he said in his shame…faced
fashion one day； when he had progressed so far as to be able to sit in an
arm… chair with his leg upon another one； 〃I feel that I have been quite in
the wrong。〃
〃Why； then？〃
〃Over this woman question。 I used to think that a woman must
inevitably lose something of her charm if she took up such studies。〃
〃Oh； you don't think they are necessarily unsexed； then？〃 she cried；
with a mischievous smile。
〃P
