Ever nursed ?" "No, sir," responded Rachel, compressing as much haughtiness as possible into the answer.
"Of course not.

Girls at your age are not at all likely to know anything that is useful, and least of all how to nurse a sick man.

I hardly know which is the worst, a young one who don't know anything, or a middle-aged one who thinks she knows it all, and continually interferes with the management of a case.

I believe though, I'd rather have had the middle-aged one to start with.

She'd be more likely to tend to her business, and not have her head turned by the attentions of the good-looking young officers who swarm around her.