Elephant Man - Christine Sparks [80]
“I don’t get out as often as I’d like to, for some people do find my appearance disturbing. Of course, I can’t fault them,” he went on. “People are often frightened by what they don’t understand. And it is hard to understand, even for myself, for you see, Mother was so very beautiful.”
“When you’re ready to leave,” Mothershead told the couple, “Mrs. Treves would like to speak to you.”
“Oh yes—well—perhaps it is time we were going—” The young man jumped to his feet and the girl followed suit. Their relief was palpable. Merrick made his farewells in the same courteous, gentle tone in which he had greeted them, and if their replies were a little hurried he did not seem to notice.
Mothershead delivered the Waddingtons into Treves’ care, glad to do so before she forgot her manners. She returned to her desk in the Receiving Room, relieved to have them out of her sight. But they reappeared about ten minutes later as Treves ushered them out of the front entrance and said goodbye on the step.
“I regret that I must leave you here, M’Lord and M’Lady,” Mothershead heard him say. “Thank you so much for coming. It was an act of the greatest charity.”
Now Lady Waddington was all ease and graciousness. “Oh no, Mr. Treves. The pleasure was all ours. Good day.”
From her desk Mothershead watched the whole scene with undisguised annoyance. She had a clear view of the Waddingtons’ faces as they turned away, and the speed with which their smiles slipped to reveal the disgust beneath drew from her the muttered comment, “Watery-headed bunch!”
She wondered how far Treves was aware of the truth behind these visits. Did he know that what he called kindness was no more than a society version of the very life from which he had rescued Merrick? “Ogling the animals in the zoo” was Mothershead’s contemptuous verdict, and in her stern judgment Treves was either ignorant or had willfully blinded himself. She respected him for the brilliant doctor she knew him to be, but she considered that he had no more common sense than men usually had, and his first words as he approached her, after seeing off the Waddingtons, confirmed it.
“Incredible, isn’t it?” he said cheerfully. “Well, I must be off, Mothershead. I’ve got a lecture at the college.”
She rose as he prepared to pass on. “Excuse me, sir, I’d like to have a word with you.”
“Oh? Well, quickly please, Mothershead. I’m overdue.”
She moved closer and lowered her voice. “I can’t understand why you let these people go in there, sir.”
“Now Mothershead, you have to understand that this is very good for John. He relishes contact with people outside the hospital …”
“But you saw them, sir,” she interrupted him, urgency making her ignore etiquette. “They couldn’t hide their disgust. They don’t care anything for John. They’re just trying to impress their friends.”
“Aren’t you being just a little harsh, Mothershead? You yourself hardly treated John with much loving kindness when he first arrived.”
She faced him squarely. “I bathed him, didn’t I? I fed him and cleaned up after him! If loving kindness can be called care and practical concern, then yes, I did treat him with loving kindness, and I’m not ashamed to say it.”
“You’re right, Mothershead, please forgive me. Of course I appreciate everything you’ve done for John, and I’m glad that you are concerned about his welfare. But I’m the physician in charge and I must do what I think best,” he hurried on before she could interrupt again. “I’m also very late, so please excuse me.”
He started to go, but she moved quickly and placed herself in front of him. “If you ask me, sir, he’s just being stared at all over again.”
He gave her an astonished look. “You really must excuse me, Mothershead. I can’t discuss this any further.”
He went to his office and collected the things he needed for the lecture. The college adjoined the hospital and he contrived to go across without passing again through the Receiving Room. He was irritated and annoyed. He had had his judgment disputed before but not by nurses, and never on the subject of Merrick, about whom everyone