you. Where are your things?"

I glanced toward the hospital, where my few worldly possessions,
including my dress clothes, my amputating set, and such of my books
as I had not been able to sell, were awaiting disposition. "Very
near, miss," I said.

"Better bring them at once; we are sailing in the morning." She
turned away as if to avoid my thanks, but stopped and came back.

"We are taking you as a sort of extra man," she explained. "You
will work with the crew, but it is possible that we will need you--
do you know anything about butler's work?"

I hesitated. If I said yes, and then failed--

"I could try."

"I thought, from your appearance, perhaps you had done something of
the sort." Oh, shades of my medical forebears, who had bequeathed
me, along with the library, what I had hoped was a professional
manner! "The butler is a poor sailor. If he fails us, you will
take his place."

She gave a curt little nod of dismissal, and I went down the
gangplank and along the wharf. I had secured what I went for; my
summer was provided for, and I was still seven dollars to the good.
I was exultant, but with my exultation was mixed a curious anger at
McWhirter, that he had advised me not to shave that morning.