She was genuinely moved by the gallant struggle of
the Cuban people, and when the dinner was over she exploded a
surprise which left both men speechless.
"This settles it with me," she announced. "I'm going down there."
Alvarado stared at her for a moment. "My dear--" he began.
But she warned him: "Don't argue with me. You know I detest
arguments. I've been thinking about it for some time, and--"
"It is quite impossible," the doctor declared, firmly; and
O'Reilly agreed.
"Of course you could go to Havana," said the latter, "but you
wouldn't be allowed to see anything."
"I'm going right to the Insurrectos with you."
"WITH ME!" O'Reilly could not conceal his lack of enthusiasm. "I
don't know that the Junta will take me."
"They will if I ask them."
Alvarado inquired, "What ever put such a ridiculous idea into your
head?"
The girl laughed. "It's the only kind of ideas I have. But there
are ten thousand reasons why I want to go. In the first place, I
fairly itch to give pills. You say the rebels have no hospitals,
no nurses--"
"We do the best we can, with our equipment."
"Well, I'll supply better equipment, and I'll handle it myself.
I'm in earnest. You sha'n't stop me."
O'Reilly was uncomfortably aware of the speaker's determination;
protests had no effect upon her; her clear cheeks had flushed, her
eyes were dancing.
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