 What kind of person is Miss Abercrombie? Choose the best option
Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Astounding Science Fiction November 1959. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. A FILBERT IS A NUT BY RICK RAPHAEL That the gentleman in question was a nut was beyond question. Illustrated by Freas Miss Abercrombie, the manual therapist patted the old man on the shoulder. The oldster in the stained convalescent suit gave her a quick, shy smile and went back to his aimless smearing in the finger paints. Miss Abercrombie smoothed her smock down over trim hips and surveyed the other patients working at the long tables in the hospital's arts and crafts shop. Two muscular and bored attendants in spotless whites, lounged beside the locked door and chatted idly about the Dodgers' prospects for the pennant. Through the barred windows of the workshop, rolling green hills were seen, their tree-studded flanks making a pleasant setting for the mental institution. The crafts building was a good mile away from the main buildings of the hospital and the hills blocked the view of the austere complex of buildings that housed the main wards. She stopped behind a frowning, intense patient, rapidly shaping blobs of clay into odd-sized strips and forms. As he finished each piece, he carefully placed it into a hollow shell hemisphere of clay. The flying fingers continued to whip out the bits of shaped clay as the patient ignored the question. "We mustn't be antisocial, Mr. Funston," Miss Abercrombie said lightly, but firmly. "You've been coming along famously and you must remember to answer when someone talks to you. "Atom bomb." I thought you said an 'atom bomb.'" Safely behind the patient's back, Miss Abercrombie smiled ever so slightly. That shows real creative thought. "All right, fellows," he called out, "time to go back. Miss Abercrombie gazed around the cluttered room and picked up her chart book of patient progress. Moving slowly down the line of benches, she made short, precise notes on the day's work accomplished by each patient. At the clay table, she carefully lifted the top half of the clay ball and stared thoughtfully at the jumbled maze of clay strips laced through the lower hemisphere. When she had completed her rounds, she slipped out of the smock, tucked the chart book under her arm and left the crafts building for the day. The sun set, darkness fell over the stilled hospital grounds and the ward lights winked out at nine o'clock, leaving just a single light burning in each ward office.
 Patient but sometimes easily shaken
 Cautious and discouraging  Impatient but well-meaning  Encouraging and strict  Patient but sometimes easily shaken