The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-09
CHAPTER III

CHAPTER III
 When Tran got back to her room, Beula Tagg, her room-mate, had just returned from an uncomfort- able Is minutes of her own in Miss Aymstrong's office.
 "She said" Beula outlined the interview gloomily, that neatness in dress is primary requiste for a successful nurse. But will you tell me how any girl can look really snappy in these meal sacks they call student uniforms?"
 She was standing before the bu- reau mirror, eyeing herself with burning dissatisfaction as she turned and twisted for a better view.
 To say that Beula looked "snappy" in her uniform would undoubtedly have been to over- state the case. Beula was on the short, plu2p side-a type of fig ure to which billoWy white apron tied about the middle is definitely not fiattering.
 Tran tried to reconcile sympathy wlEh truth.
 'They aren't exactly slimming, she agreed. And it's my bet they were designed by father of 10 whose war cry was, A Woman's place is the home!' But who are pEobes to be choosy?"
 AS matter of fact, Tran could a6ord to be philosophical. On her 0Bn slim figure the gray uniform, with its plain white cuffs and col lar and its voluminous white apron, had somewhat the effect of . demurely picturesque peasant masquerade.
 Beula looked comforted, but not entirely treasured as she continued to twist and turn before the mir TOT.
 T suppose I might try not ty- ing the strings 50 tight" she ob- served, frowning
 Tt would be more to the point if you'd try passing up the second and third helpings of dessert,' Tran suggested unwarily.
 It was tactical error. As a nurse, Beula was her senior-only by the three days, it is true, which a flooded railroad track had made Tran late in matriculating; but as beula saw it, it might as well have been three years That was one funny thing about this business of seniority. Logically, the senior nurse at any given time and place should have been the one in authority. But senior nurse" it appeared, could be purely relative term, depend- ing entirely on length of service.
 So far as Tran could see, every girl in the hospital except herself was senior 10 some one else, and to be respected as such Beula Tagg chose the present moment to enforce that point.
 Say, listen, Utility - Miss Arm strong wants you. Beat it And, :" she finished, tying her apron with a final vicious jerk, may God have mercy on your soul! Be- cause if Miss Armstrongs heard about yesterday, your name won ! be Tranquility or even 'Utillty any longer. It'll be plain Flu tility'." ~ ..ao,e c., the coming interview, Tran quoted to herself, as she hurried along the miles of passage that led to Miss Armstrongs office, certain in- spirational passages from the laat lesson in "A Nurse and Her World": "To admit the possibil- ftv of fear Is to be defeated A nurse must be ln command Of her own emotions before she can hope to command unpleasant situa- tions."
 Sure! Tran muttered to herself The only trouble is that Miss Armstrong wrote that book, her self.
 She was hesitating on the thres- hold of the office when the door opened, and young Dr. Benchlcy came out. Just inside was Miss Armstrong herself. She stood re- spectfully at attention, as good nurse should in presence of one of the medical hierarchy; but if it had been any one but Miss Armstrong,