re, it seemed unbearable--as if life
had suddenly become too sinister and cruel to strike at souls so little
and helpless as these. There were things one could never explain in
terms of God. She found herself wondering if that was why the Senior
Surgeon worshiped science; and she shivered.

The room had become repellent; it was a sepulchral place entombing all
she had lost. In the midst of the dusk and gloom her mind groped
about--after its habit--for something cheerful, something that would
break the colorless monotone of the room and change the atmosphere. In
a flash she remembered the primroses; and the remembrance brought a
smile.

"They're nothing but charlatans," she thought, "but the children will
never find that out, and they'll be something bright for them to wake
up to in the morning."

This was what sent her down the stairs again, just as the board meeting
adjourned.

Now the board adjourned with thumbs down--signifying that the incurable
ward was no more, as far as the future of Saint Margaret's was
concerned. The trustees stirred in their chairs with a comfortable
relaxing of joint and muscle, as if to say, "There, that is a piece of
business well despatched; nothing like methods of conservation and
efficiency, you know." Only the little gray wisp of a woman by the
door sat rigid, her hands still folded on her lap.

The Oldest Trustee had just remarked to the Social Trustee that all the
things gossip had said of the widow of the Richest Trustee were
undoubtedly true--she was a nonentity--when the Senior Surgeon dropped
in. This was according to the President's previous request. That
gentleman of charitable parts had implied that there would undoubtedly
be good news and congratulations awaiting him. This did not mean that
the board intended to slight its duty and fail to consider the matter
of the incurables with due conscientiousness--the board was as strong
for conscience as for conservation. It merely went to show that the
fate of Ward C had been preordained from the beginning; and that the
President felt wholly justified in requesting the presence of the
Senior Surgeon at the end of the meeting.

His appearance called forth such a laudatory buzzing of tongues and
such a cordial shaking of hands that one might have easily mistaken the
meeting for a successful political rally or a religious revival. The
Youngest and Prettiest Trustee fluttered about him, chirping ecstatic
expletives, whi