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s you would be good enough to make a reservation for me at one of the local hotels for arrival August 14。
On the subject of the work I shall be doing at the hospital； there is one point which I felt we did not clear up entirely； and I am mentioning it now in the hope that perhaps you may be able to discuss it with Dr。 Pearson sometime before my arrival。
It is my feeling that it would be advantageous； both for the hospital and myself； if there were some clearly defined areas of responsibility where I could have a reasonably free hand； both in general supervision of the day…to…day work and also the carrying…out of any changes of organization and technique which； of course； are always necessary from time to time。
My own wishes in this regard would be to have direct responsibility； within the pathology department； for Serology； Hematology； and Biochemistry； though； of course； assisting Dr。 Pearson in pathological anatomy and other matters at any time he might see fit。
As I say； I have raised this point now in the hope that it may be possible for you and Dr。 Pearson to consider it before August 15。 But please be assured that at all times I will seek to co…operate fully with Dr。 Pearson and to serve Three Counties Hospital to the best of my ability。
Yours very truly；
David Coleman； M。D。
Coleman read through the neatly typed letter once more； put it in an envelope； and sealed it。 Then； going back to his portable typewriter； he tapped out a similar but slightly shorter note to Dr。 Joseph Pearson。
David Coleman left the furnished apartment which he had rented on a short lease for the few months he had been in Boston and walked to a mailbox with both letters。 Thinking over what he had written； he still was not sure why he had chosen Three Counties in preference to the seven other posts he had been offered within recent weeks。 Certainly it was not the most remunerative。 Thought of in financial terms； it was more than halfway down the list。 Nor was it a 〃name〃 hospital。 Two of the other medical centers in which he had been offered employment had names that were internationally renowned。 But Three Counties was scarcely known outside the immediate area it served。
Why then？ Was it because he was afraid of being lost； swallowed up； in a bigger center？ Scarcely； because his own record already showed he could hold his own in that kind of environment。 Was it because he felt he would be freer for research in a small place？ He certainly hoped to do some research； but if that were what he wanted most he could have chosen a research institute…there had been one on his list…and done nothing else。 Was it because of the challenge that he had made his choice？ Maybe。 There were certainly a lot of things wrong in pathology at Three Counties Hospital。 He had seen that just in the two brief days he had spent there last week； following the phone call from the administrator inviting him to visit the hospital and look the situation over。 And working with Dr。 Pearson was not going to be easy。 He had sensed resentment in the older man when they had met； and the administrator had admitted under Coleman's questioning that Pearson had a reputation for being hard to get along with。
So was it because of the challenge？ Was that why he had picked Three Counties？ Was it？ Or was it something else； something quite different？ Was it 。 。 。 self…mortification？ Was it that still…the old specter that had haunted him so long？
Of all his traits of character David Coleman had long suspected pride to be the strongest； and it was a defect he feared and hated most。 In his own opinion he had never been able to conquer pride； he spurned it； rejected it； yet always it came back…seemingly strong and indestructible。
Mostly his pride stemmed from an awareness of his own superior intellect。 In the pany of others he frequently felt himself to be mentally far out front； usually because he was。 And； intellectually； everything he had done so far in his life proved this to be true。
As far back as David Coleman could remember； the fruits of scholarship had e to him easily。 Learning had proved as simple as breathing。 In public school； high school； college； medical school； he had soared above others； taking the highest honors almost as a matter of course。 He had a mind which was at once absorbent； analytical； understanding。 And proud。
He had first learned about pride in his early years of high school。 Like anyone who is naturally brilliant； he was regarded initially by his fellow students with some suspicion。 Then； as he made no attempt to conceal his feelings of mental superiority； suspicion turned to dislike and finally to hate。
At the time he had sensed this； but he had not consciously cared until one day the school principal； himself a brilliant scholar and an understanding man； had taken him aside。 Even now David Coleman remembered what the other man had said。
〃I think you're big enough to take this； so I'm going to spell it out。 In these four walls； aside from me； you haven't a single friend。〃
At first he had not believed it。 Then because； above all； he was supremely honest； he had admitted to himself that the fact was true。
Then the principal had said； 〃You're a brilliant scholar。 You know it and there's no reason why you shouldn't。 As to what's ahead； you can be anything you choose。 You have a remarkably superior mind； Coleman…I may say； unique in my experience。 But I warn you： if you want to live with others； sometimes you'll have to seem less superior than you are。〃
It was a daring thing to say to a young； impressionable man。 But the master had not underrated his pupil。 Coleman went away with the advice； digested it； analyzed it； and finished up despising himself。
From then on he had worked harder than ever…to rehabilitate himself with a planned program almost of self…mortification。 He had begun with games。 From as far back as he could remember David Coleman had disliked sports of every kind。 At school； so far； he had never participated； and he inclined to the opinion that people who went to sports events and cheered were rather stupid juveniles。 But now he turned up at practice…football in winter； baseball in summer。 Despite his own first feelings he became expert。 At college he found himself in the first teams。 And when not playing； as a supporter in college and high school he attended every game； cheering as loudly as the rest。
Yet he was never able to play without a feeling of indifference to games； which he carefully concealed。 And he never cheered without an inward uneasiness that he was behaving childishly。 It was this which made him believe that； though he had humbled pride； he had never banished it。
His relationship with people had gone much the same way。 In the old days； on meeting someone whom he considered intellectually inferior； he had never bothered to conceal his boredom or disinterest。 But now； as part of his plan； he went out of his way to be cordial to such people。 As a result； in college he had taken on the reputation of a friendly sage。 It had bee a password among those in academic difficulties to say； 〃Let's have a bull session with David Coleman。 He'll straighten us out。〃 And invariably he did。