"It's silly nonsense, your thinking you can make a living here," he
said irritably. "I'm already established, I'm a man, I can have all of
the cases I want, you'll get only a few breeds who haven't a dollar to
the dozen of them. If you are already broke and can't even pay for
your room and board . . ."
"Who told you that?" she asked quickly.
"I can hear, can't I?" he demanded coarsely. "Didn't you go just now
to beg Struve to hold you over? And . . ."
She slipped out of her chair and stood a moment staring coldly and
contemptuously at him. Then she was gone, leaving Patten watching her
departure incredulously.
"A man who hasn't any more sense than Caleb Patten," she cried within
herself, "has no business with a physician's license. It's a sheer
wonder he didn't kill Roderick Norton!"
Already she had forgotten her words with Struve, or rather the matter
for the present was shoved aside in her mind by another. She had come
here to make good, she had her fight before her, and she was going to
make good. She had to . . . for herself, for her own pride, for
Elmer's sake. She went straight to Elmer and made him sit down and
listen while she sketched actual conditions briefly and emphatically.
He was old enough to do something for himself in the world, continued
idleness did him no earthly good and might do him no end of harm
morally, mentally, and physically.
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