The Pull of the Stars

As she leaves the Maternity/Fever ward, Julia runs into Bridie. They see a poster in the hall that says, “The government has the situation well in hand” and “If you feel yourself succumbing, report yourself and lie down for a fortnight” (235), advising the sick to stay in bed to recover from the flu. Julia thinks, “The line I found the most laughable was the one about lying down for a fortnight; who could afford or manage that without a houseful of servants?” (235).

Bridie tells Julia that she plans to stay overnight at the hospital to keep an eye on Julia because she may be weak from giving blood. Julia and Bridie walk to the nurses’ dorms only to discover that the hospital has converted them into an overflow men’s fever ward. Julia suggests that they go onto the rooftop, and Bridie agrees. Julia thinks, “What I treasured about this young woman was that she never said no. She was game for anything, it seemed, including scrambling up the gabled roof of a four-storey building” (238). Julia grabs blankets, and they go onto the rooftop and look at the stars. On the roof, Julia shows Bridie her silver watch and points out where she carves scratches on the back for the patients who have died in her care.