Strong Medicine by Arthur Hailey Page B

if we let her leave this room in this way, we're all shortsighted
    fools."
    Celia could scarcely believe what she heard. She had a momen-
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tary sense of shame for doubting Sam's motives. What he had just done, she
    realized, was to put his own job, his ambitions, his promising future at
    Felding-Roth, all on the line on her behalf
    Still the uncanny silence persisted. There was a shared awareness of a
    moment of high drama in which no one seemed certain what would happen
    next.
    It was Eli Camperdown who moved first, returning to his seat beside the
    chairman of the board where the two senior officers began a second
    urgent, low-voiced conversation. This time Camperdown was doing most of
    the talking-it seemed, attempting to persuade while the elderly VanHouten
    listened. At first the chairman shook his head adamantly, then appeared
    to relent, and finally shrugged. Camperdown beckoned Irving Gregson to
    join them.
    Since decisions were obviously taking shape at highest level, others
    waited, though now a buzz of conversation filled the hall,
    It diminished as the vice president of sales left the other two and
    ascended the speakers' platform. He took over the microphone from Sam
    Hawthorne, who returned to his seat below. Gregson surveyed the sea of
    curious faces, paused for effect, then permitted himself a broad grin.
    "Whatever else you may say about our sales conferences," he declared, "we
    always promise you they are never dull."
    It was the fight thing to say and there was a roar of appreciative
    laughter in which even the dour VanHouten joined.
    "I am instructed by our chairman and president," Gregson said, ,.an
    instruction in which I personally join, to state that a few moments ago
    we may all have acted hastily, even unwisely." Again the grin, a pause,
    and the sales chief continued.
    "Many years ago, when I was a small boy and sometimes got into trouble-as
    all boys do-my mother taught me something. 'Irving,' she said, 'when
    you've made an ass of yourself and an apology is called for, stand up
    straight, be a man, and do it handsomely.' My dear mother, rest her soul,
    is dead; but somehow I can hear her voice saying, 'Irving, my boy, that
    time is now."'
    Watching and listening, Celia thought: Gregson had style. It was clearly
    not by accident he had been promoted to the hierarchy of sales.
    She realized he was pointing directly at her. "Mrs. Jordan, come this
    way, please. You too, Sam."
    When all three of them were on the platform--Celia dazed, almost
    unbelieving-Gregson said, "I announced I would apologize,
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Mrs. Jordan, and I do. We will, after all, consider your suggestions
    carefully. And now I'll relieve you of that file of yours if you don't
    mind."
    Turning to the audience Gregson said, "I believe you have just
    witnessed an example of why ours is a great company and will
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    T he remainder of his remarks were drowned out by applause and cheering
    and, moments later, executives and others were surrounding Celia,
    offering congratulations and shaking her hand.
    "Why did you risk it?" Sam Hawthorne asked.
    "If it comes to that," Celia answered, "why did you?"
    It was a week later. Celia and Andrew were spending an evening at the
    Hawthornes' home and during dinner-a superb meal attesting Lilian
    Hawthorne's culinary skill-they had avoided the subject of the sales
    convention and talked of other things. A few days earlier the Russians
    had announced the shooting down of an American U-2 plane and the capture
    of its pilot, Gary Powers. Moscow charged that both were spying. The
    United States at first denied the charge but soon afterward President
    Eisenhower admitted, redfaced, that it was true. Most Americans, the
    Hawthornes and Jordans agreed, felt embarrassed too.
    In Britain the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret, had set tongues wagging
    and raised eyebrows by marrying a professional photographer, Antony
    Armstrong-Jones. The wedding took place in what the press described as
    a