critical major operation in twenty
minutes; and he could operate on critical issues quite as rapidly.
Speed was his creed; therefore he characteristically attacked the
subject in hand without any prefatory remarks.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the board, the incurable ward is doing
nothing. I can see no possible reason or opportunity for further
observation or experimentation there. Every case in it at the present
time, as well as every Case that is likely to come to us, is as a
sealed document as far as science is concerned. They are
incurable--they will remain incurable for all time."

"How do you know?" The question came from the set lips of the nurse in
charge of Ward C.

"How do we know anything in science? We prove it by undeniable,
irrevocable facts."

"Even then you are not sure of it. I was proved incurable--but I got
well."

"That proves absolutely nothing!" And the Senior Surgeon growled as he
always did when things went against his liking. "You were a case in a
thousand--in a lifetime. Because it happened once--here in this
hospital--is no reason for believing that it will ever happen again."

"Oh yes, it is!" persisted Margaret MacLean. "There is just as much
reason for believing as for not believing. Every one of those
children, in the ward now might--yes, they might--be a case in a
thousand; and no one has any right to take that thousandth of a chance
away from them."

"You are talking nonsense--stupid, irrational nonsense." And the
Senior Surgeon glared at her.

The truth was that he had never forgiven her for getting well. To have
had a slip of a girl juggle with the most reliable of scientific data,
as well as with his own undeniable skill as a diagnostician, and grow
up normally, healthfully perfect, was insufferable. He had never quite
forgiven the Old Senior Surgeon for his share in it. And to have her
stand against him and his great desire, now, and actually throw this
thing in his face, was more than he could endure. He did not know that
Margaret MacLean was fighting for what she loved most on earth, the one
thing that seemed to belong to her, the thing that had been given into
her keeping by the right of a memory bequeathed to her by the man he
could not save. Truth to tell, Margaret MacLean had never quite
forgiven the Senior Surgeon for this, blameless as she knew him to be.

And so for the space of a quick breath the two faced each other,
aggressive and accusing.

W