Temperance had suspected as much by the time the man confirmed it. Her help was rarely sought after by women unless it was about reproductive matters. Although she could hardly call the young girl before her a woman, it wasn’t unheard of for girls of a similar age to find themselves in a family way. “I see,” she said. With the girl securely within the chair, Temperance picked up the straw hat from the floor.

“That would be me,” Temperance informed him gently, she has learned that it was best to deliver that bit of unwelcome news to men demurely. Displaying arrogance or acting offended often resulted in less than favorable results. Time was of the essence, without waiting for a response she unlocked the wheels on the chair and began to slowly push it towards the doors that led to the patient area of the clinic. “Do you know how far along she is?” Temperance asked. Usually, she would address the patient, but she felt that the girl was in no position to be answering questions yet.