'Old people are the worst sufferers in modern society. Often they're entirely cut off from their families, either through distance or lack of interest. I went to India once as a student, and they can teach us a lot about family life, for all our assumption of Western superiority.'
Miss Winter, who had been a dispenser in a mission hospital, agreed with him entirely. 'They don't condemn their old folk to life in a Home or a bed-sitter, as we so often do. Did you manage all right, Dr Ramsay? Could you read Dr Andrew's writing?'
Miss Winter was a privileged person and allowed to tease her doctors. Nell smiled at her and agreed that Andrew's writing was atrocious. Even worse than his father's!
She drove back to the Manor in a glow of satisfaction, pleasure at being back at work, and relief that she had coped quite adequately. Andrew had been pleased with her and had said that before long she could take surgeries on her own.
'Then Dad or I can start visits earlier. This time of year there's always a long list.'
It was already the beginning of March, dull blustery days with scarcely a gleam of sunshine. When Nell had been at home most of the time she had found the gloomy weather depressing. Now she sang as she drove through the narrow country lanes. Her exhilaration was a little damped when she arrived home to find Philip's car near the front door. She hadn't seen him for over a week, not since that evening when he had brought her back from the station. Blackie had mentioned that he was away.
'He comes and goes a lot. Stays in his London flat some weeks, travels abroad a great deal.'
'Portrait of a successful globe-trotting business man,' Nell had commented, and Blackie had looked at her in surprise.
'Don't you like him? I think he's a real gentleman.'
Nell parked behind Philip's car and went slowly into the house. Remembering her last meeting with him, she felt some embarrassment, but was determined not to show it.
They were all in the library, the Colonel, her aunt and Philip, Nurse Taylor and Blackie too, the women with glasses of sherry, the men drinking whisky. It was unusual for Blackie to join in like this.
'What's up?' asked Nell. 'Is this a celebration?'
Her grandfather beamed at her. 'Yes indeed. Dr Franks called this morning. He says I can do more now—join the rest of the family for meals, go for short walks with Nurse Taylor.'
'That's wonderful!' Nell crossed the room and stooped to kiss the old man's cheek. As she straightened she met Philip's eyes. 'Hallo,' she said coolly, and he inclined his head slightly in return.
'Pour Nell a drink, please, Philip,' said her grandfather.
Philip moved towards the drinks cupboard, turned and asked her what she wanted. The others were talking. Philip's mouth turned up at the corners, but not in a proper smile.
'Not pleased with me?' he murmured. 'In view of the occasion do you think you could hide it?'
She almost snatched the glass from his hand. 'I thought I had. No one else seemed to notice.'
'They're too taken up with the old man's good news. Do you think he'll make a complete recovery?'
'Hard to say. He's over seventy.'
'And does this mean you'll be returning to London soon ‑'
'I don't think so. Not for another month or two anyway.'
The smile was a real one now, softening his rather hard face, so that even Nell, who didn't like him, was aware of his attraction. She blinked and moved away from him, joining her grandfather by the fire. The Colonel asked how she had got on that morning. To everyone's surprise he had accepted the fact of her working with complete lack of argument.
'Shouldn't think the men were too pleased, having to see a chit of a girl,' he remarked, eyes glinting beneath bushy eyebrows.
Nell took this correctly as a heavy-handed attempt at a joke, and answered in kind. 'As a matter of fact they loved it. One old man booked his next visit on my day. I heard him asking Miss Winter if he could see me.'
'Old fool,' rumbled Colonel Whitehead, and Philip, strolling across to join them, gave Nell an amused look.
'Work certainly seems to agree with you. You're positively sparkling today.'
'Glad to get away from us,' Elizabeth said sourly. 'You know how easily she gets bored.'
Nell flushed. 'No, I don't. It's just that—that I'm trained for a certain job, and it seems such a waste not to use my training!'
Unexpectedly Philip agreed with her. 'It's always a pity when someone wastes their skills. Seems the ideal solution to me. The MacFarlanes are hard pressed and Nell wants to work.' He smiled at her again, as warmly as before, and Nell's hand tightened on her glass.
It was extraordinary how pleasant he was being today, as if he was making a deliberate effort to charm her. And almost succeeding, she thought ruefully, staring at him as he stood by the fireplace, tall, well built, ruggedly handsome.
Blackie disappeared into the kitchen and a few minutes later the lunch gong sounded from the hall. Elizabeth gave the Colonel her arm, fussing over the old man in a way that plainly irritated him. As father and daughter went out of the room Nell hung back for a second, and spoke to Philip.
'Why the sudden approval?' she asked.
His eyebrows went up. 'Don't fancy me as an ally?'
'I'm wondering what's behind it.'
He took her by the arm and marched her towards the door. 'What a suspicious girl you are! Do you enjoy quarrelling with people?'
She pulled her arm away, pausing for a moment to look up at him. 'Not really.' She smiled a little uncertainly. 'I suppose it would be more ... civilised ... if we could get on.'
'I agree with you,' he said solemnly, so that she suspected mockery and gave him a doubtful look. His face, when he chose it, gave little away, so that she was left wondering why his behaviour had changed so markedly. He couldn't have forgotten the rude names he had called her in the car. She most certainly hadn't, Nell thought indignantly, as she seated herself at the lunch table. She was still puzzling about it when the others' conversation intruded on her thoughts.
'We'd love to have lunch with you, Philip,' her aunt was saying, 'but perhaps this Sunday is a bit soon for Father. Could we come the following one instead?'
'Easter Sunday? Certainly,' Philip agreed, and Elizabeth gave him an affectionate look.
'It'll be like old times again.'
'Old times?' Nell enquired, and her aunt explained.
'We've been having Sunday lunch with Philip for years now.'
'But—but why?' She stared from one to the other of them, surprised, not for the first time, by the degree of intimacy that had sprung up between Philip and her family.
'Why?' Philip repeated. 'Because we enjoy each other's company, of course.'
'And Sunday was such a lonely day with just the two of us in this big house,' sighed Elizabeth, giving her niece a reproachful look.
Nell flushed and bit her lip. Elizabeth lost no opportunity for digs like that. Now she was speaking to Philip again. 'You don't mind if we bring Nell?' There was a hint of apology in her voice as if she regretted having to make this request.
Before Philip could answer Nell stepped in, her colour heightened. 'It's all right, Aunt Elizabeth. I'll stay at home with Blackie.'
Everyone looked surprised and Blackie reminded Nell that she was going to be away for Easter, having a short holiday with her sister.
'My dear Nell,' said Philip in a kindly, avuncular manner that made her want to throw something at him, 'I assure you you'll be most welcome. There'll be a house full for Easter. One more will make no difference.'
After lunch Nell helped Blackie with the dishes. She was still brooding over Philip's invitation, and told the older woman that she would just as soon go up to Q.C.H. for the day.
'Don't be difficult, Nell!' Blackie spoke with unusual sharpness. 'It will look so rude if you refuse to go.'
'I suppose so,' Nell agreed reluctantly. She frowned over the wine glass she was polishing, and Blackie told her to be careful.
'You'll break the ste
m if you go on like that. And what's wrong with going to Mr Trent's house? They say he's a wonderful host.'
'He can afford to be, with all that money,' Nell snapped, and Blackie swished the suds vigorously.
'My, my, you're in a bad mood today! Just what is it about poor Mr Trent that upsets you so much?'
'Good question,' Nell said, but she wasn't sure of the answer. Perhaps, she thought, it was because, even when he was being pleasant, he treated her as if she was a little girl. To a fully fledged young woman doctor that was more than just irritating. It was downright insulting.
The one place where she was treated as an adult was at the surgery. She looked forward to her sessions there with enthusiasm, gave of her best to the patients, and wrote meticulous notes in her small neat hand.
'Putting Dad and me to shame,' said Andrew jokingly, as he sifted through the list of patients who needed home visits. 'In a hurry to get back, Nell? If you're not, care to come round with me?'
She was delighted at the idea. 'That would be fun, Andrew.'
Andrew smiled at her eager face and winked at Miss Winter. 'Fun! When she's been at it a few more years she'll change her tune.'
'I don't think she will,' Miss Winter disagreed. The daughter and granddaughter of a doctor, she spoke with some authority. 'Dr Ramsay has a real gift for medicine. I can always tell.'
'Isn't Miss Winter sweet?' Nell enthused as she climbed into Andrew's car.
He made a droll face. 'Sweet is not the word I'd apply to the old battleaxe, but she's certainly taken a fancy to you. We all have for that matter. We'll miss you when you go back to London.'
'I'm in no hurry,' Nell told him, and found to her surprise that it was true. After years of living in student hostels or bedsitters in the back streets of London, it was heart-warming to live in her old home again, firmly re-entrenched in her grandfather's affection. If Elizabeth's tongue was still sharp, Nell could laugh it off more easily, now that she had the outlet of her work.
Their last visit took them down a familiar road. 'Mrs Middleton-Massey lives just round the bend,' Nell remarked, and Andrew smiled.
'So she does. Haven't seen the old girl lately.'
'Have we time to look in? Just for a few minutes?'
The Middleton-Masseys were the most hospitable people for miles and were always delighted when they had unexpected visitors. Five minutes later Nell and Andrew were seated in their drawing-room with drinks in front of them, listening to Mr Middleton-Massey's account of his most recent hunting misfortune. A wiry man of only medium height, he made a curious contrast to his large wife, but if casual acquaintances found them comical, Nell knew better. How wonderful to be so happily married, she thought. They were too contented and too busy to have time for the minor ailments of middle age.
'Archie,' Mrs Middleton-Massey boomed, 'fill Andrew's glass up, m'dear.'
Andrew shook his head. 'I'm on duty, but Nell isn't.'
Nell was a light drinker. She put her hand over her glass. 'None for me either. I suppose we should be going.'
'Not before I've heard how you're getting on. Your grandfather and Elizabeth treating you properly?'
'Yes, of course.'
'No of course about it, my girl. Had a long talk with Philip Trent last weekend,' Mrs Middleton-Massey added with seeming inconsequence. Puzzled by her remark, Nell remained silent. 'About you, m'dear.'
Andrew was getting restive, glancing at his watch. The men went out, followed more slowly by the two women. 'I hope he didn't convert you to his point of view,' Nell joked. 'He doesn't approve of me, you know.'
Mrs Middleton-Massey poked her with a hard forefinger. 'Quite the contrary. I converted him. Told him a few home truths about Elizabeth.'
'Wasn't that rather tactless? They're very good friends.'
'Probably was, but Archie says tact has never been one of my strong points. Especially when I see an injustice being done.' She gave Nell a sly smile. 'Anyway, even if I didn't change his mind completely I gave him food for thought.'
The idea of Philip and Mrs Middleton-Massey mulling over her affairs didn't appeal to Nell. The trouble about living in the country was that everybody knew everybody else's business, though after the anonymity of city life, even that might not be a such a bad thing.
The days flew by, with Colonel Whitehead maintaining a steady improvement. Every morning he stumped along the drive, armed with a shooting stick, on to which he would subside when he felt tired. Elizabeth was fully occupied with W.I. affairs and plans to make this Easter's church decorations the best in living memory. Nell was getting on better with her aunt, chiefly because they saw so little of each other, except at meals. Her grandfather was inclined to grumble, saying that they had no time for him. Now that Nurse Taylor was gone, he would be thoroughly bored if Philip didn't drop' in occasionally for the odd game of chess.
'Grandpa, you're a shocking fraud!' Nell reproved lovingly. 'When Nurse Taylor was here you couldn't wait to get rid of her. And I haven't been out for nights.'
'Just as well,' grunted the old man. 'That lad keeps you out far too late.'
The lad was Andrew, whom Nell was having some difficulty in controlling. She enjoyed his company, but deplored his tendency to think that every girl he took out was eager for lovemaking. After their last date Nell had vowed that she wouldn't go out with him again. Andrew had grinned in his good-humoured way and promised to behave, but thought he acted circumspectly enough at the surgery, he had a way of looking at her that made Nell blush.
It was Andrew's behaviour that caused Nell to hesitate over a proposal put to her by old Dr MacFarlane. 'The local Health Executive have at last passed our request for an assistant,' he told her one day, and the girl knew a sudden stab of disappointment.
'So I shan't be needed much longer?' she queried regretfully. 'Have you advertised the job already?'
'No, my dear.' Dr MacFarlane smiled across at his son, who lounged against the corner of his father's desk. 'Andrew and I are wondering if you might be interested You fit in so well. We should be delighted to have you. Assistant with a view, as they say.'
That meant with a view to partnership. 'I'm flattered,' smiled Nell, 'but I haven't really finished my training. I've only done jobs in general medicine and surgery. I'd thought of obstetrics next, then perhaps paediatrics and geriatrics.'
'Not absolutely necessary,' observed Dr MacFarlane. 'You've already picked up a lot in the practice, and you could always have time off for study leave ... or to go on courses. And if you have problems we're here to consult.'
It was tempting. Nell had discovered a real liking for general practice, and wondered why so many of her friends regarded it as the last resort if they failed to make the grade in the hospital career structure.
'I'll think about it,' she promised, and that night in bed she mulled over the problem. She enjoyed the work, she liked the MacFarlanes, and surely her grandfather would be pleased? Elizabeth she couldn't answer for, though her aunt had certainly made a real effort to be more friendly lately. Andrew? If she made it plain that she would never think of him as more than a friend, surely he would have the sense to behave? She decided to telephone tomorrow and ask Belinda's advice.
Belinda was vehemently against the idea. 'Don't bury yourself in the country. You're a very bright girl, you could go right to the top.'
'I'm not sure I want to,' Nell said doubtfully. 'I don't see myself as a pushy registrar, competing in the teaching hospital rat-race.'
'You won't have to,' Belinda said with a giggle. 'You're one of the lucky ones, girl. Brainy and beautiful. It helps, believe me.' There was not a trace of envy in her voice. Belinda was a good friend, and besides, she had Jimmy Green, to whom she was now engaged. 'Ted's here,' she added. 'Talk it over with him.'
'Ted won't be interested,' Nell said quickly. There had been no communication between them since her visit to London.
'Of course he will.' There was a murmur of voices the other end and Ted came on the line.
'Just an idea. Nothing's definite yet.'
'Keep it that way. You'd be crazy to accept. This is where die action is,' said Ted, sounding more himself now.
'I'm not sure you're right. I think the important action is right here in general practice, and not in the teaching hospitals.'
'They've corrupted you down there,' joked Ted, and then more seriously, 'Don't do anything in a hurry, Nell.' He lowered his voice. 'Know something? I miss you very much.'
'I miss you all too,' Nell answered, and he sighed.
'Not quite the same thing. When are you coming up again?'
'We're pretty busy just now. Not before Easter.'
'Then I'll have to come down,' Ted said firmly, and though Nell had some doubts about that, she hadn't the heart to discourage him.
CHAPTER FIVE
By the time Easter arrived Nell was surprised to find that she was quite looking forward to visiting Philip's house. If she wasn't exactly on friendly terms with him at least they were no longer antagonists. On the few occasions when they had met lately, they had got on fairly well, though Nell never felt entirely at ease with him. He was too big, too masculine, too sure of himself. He made her feel inadequate, and that was something she hadn't experienced since her schooldays.
However, she had heard so much about Philip's house that she was curious to see it for herself. Blackie was always extolling its virtues compared with the old-fashioned manor which she had to run, and on Good Friday she was still on this theme. 'Your grandfather has been saying for years that he intends to modernise this place.' Blackie waved a disparaging hand round the shabby kitchen.
'I like it this way,' Nell protested, 'and so do the dogs!' She stooped to tickle Paddy behind the ears, where he lay on the worn old rug in front of the Aga, revelling in its gentle warmth.
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