New Britain herald., 1916-05-12
Dickys Mother Delivers an UIti-
 matum to Dr. Petit.

II MS SOnnOt ana ndd been two naughty school children suddenly surprised by the schoolmaster, we could not have been more dismayed at Dr. Pettits sudden appearance in the sick room.
 But the real culprit, myrmo mother-in law, Miss Sonnot's patient, was obso- 1utely unabashed by the tall phy- sician's disappearing look as he gazed at the piles of clothing on every chair, and the collection of olden- time patchwork quilts spread over the foot of the sick woman's bed.
 Against the nurses protests the elder Mrs. Graham had insisted upon supervising the unpacking of her trunks which her sudden illness had left unopened for days. As watched little Miss Sonnot's face regain the cool professional look which had left 1t for an instant, I had shrewd suspicion that Dr. Pettits visit was an unexpected one, that if she had known he was coming she would not have yielded to the demands of her imperious patient.
 'T am surprised that you should have allowed this, Miss sonnot. thought I had impressed upon you the absolute need for rest and quiet in this case. Anything like this can not help but be inJurious.'
 I flushed niserably at Dr. Pettit's tone as if l, instead of the nurse, were being censured. But Miss Sonnot's ia ce' did not change either in color or expression. She had given one little dismayed start when the phy- sician so unexpectedly entered the room. Then, for any emotion her face or figure registered, she might have been a statue.
 A Battle of Personalities.
 "I am very sorry,'' she said, and her voice was as cool and colorless as if she had been counting pulse But the patient wished so much to see to the unpacking of her trunks that I finally consented after I had found her pulse and temperature to be absolutely norma1.'
 Most injudicious" returned the physician. 'Now if you will kindly clear these away at once." His tone held the note of arrogance which even the best of physicians some times assume toward the nurses in charge Of their cases.
 But a thoroughly drilled soldier could not have exce11ed the imper- sonal manner with which Miss Son. not began to fold the quilts lying on the bed. I sprang forward. to help her [
 "Stop!" My mother-in-law's voice 1 rang out imperat lively. A red spot on ] c1, raised herself from her pillows and l looked defiantlv at the physician
 "You seem to forget pr. Pettit,'' she said icilv ''that these are my i clothes you are so uncerem oniously l ordering put away. Let me disa buse i your mind of one thing. once and for 1 all I am perfectly willing to follow eny good physicians directions as to medicine and care when I am really ill But am not a child. I under stand my own strength and constitu- ton perfectly well, and I decline to hermit any nurse or physician to tell me when I shall unpack my trunks or do anything else. Let those things alone" She snapped tlpe last words at Miss Sonnot and me.
 I turned my head away to hide smile at the blank amazement de- picted upon the physicians face. | had had too many experiences of my mother -in-law's acid temper and ar rogant ways not to enjoy watching the behavior of a victim as d1gn1hed as Dr. Petit.
 But he came out of the ordeal with flying co1ors. Don't forget also." he said smiling. but with a grimness behind the pleasantly. "that am responsible for whatever hap pens to you while you are under my charge Please lie back at once and let me take your temperature.'
 He advanced to the bed and slipped the thermom eter into her mouth, smothering her mumbled protest.
 "Shut your eyes" he commanded. '1 want you to be in absolute repose while this Is taken
 Much to my surprise she obeyed him meek1y. With his eyes the phy l sician telegrapfed a command to Miss Sonnot.
 The Grim Mouth Tightens.
 Indicating to me silently that I was to fold the quilts and put them back in the trunk, the little nurse picked up the dresses and coats, hung them in the closet I had emptied for my mother-in-la use. and put her lingerie in neat piles in the drawers Of the chiffonier. Her movements were incredibly swift When Dr. Petit took the therm ometer from his patients mouth and told her that she might open her eyes, only the blanket covered box by the side of her bed remained of the collection of personal belongings that had filtered the room, but those Dr. Petit did not appear to notice.
 Knowing the generous spr1nkl1ng