CHAPTER SIX
FOR A SEEMINGLY endless moment Sally experienced a feeling of exquisite and''triumphant---happiness. With Laurence's arms about her, his lips on her own, the shock of his embrace was swallowed up by a sense of achievement, of fulfillment. This, then, she thought vaguely, was what she had been waiting for it was for this moment that the past years had been preparing her, that she might know and enjoy this precious moment to the full. Then even as she responded with shy eagerness tohis kiss,' the sound of a door slamming frightened them apart and they stood facing one another, all the excitement and happiness gone, and only a sense of embarrassment and apology remaining. . . She turned instinctively, eyeing the . closed door with some suspicion. And even as she assured herself that they were safe, the door opened and Nurse Frensham stood there. "I'm so sorry " she began formally, "I had no idea you were still here, Sister. I came back for some papers belonging to Dr. Trenton." Alan? Sally started, wondering if it could have been Alan Trenton who had slammed the door. Then the absurdity of such a suspicion struck her, for how could Alan have returned to the Main Block and asked Janie to fetch his papers all within a space of seconds? Then, if not Alan who had slammed the door? She felt dose to tears, wondering miserably if she looked as guilty and 102 ashamed as she felt. Glancing sheepishly at the doctor, -she was somewhat taken aback to discover that his thin, handsome face bore no trace of embarrassment whatsoever, indeed his smile, as he looked at Janie Frensham, was as kindly and friendly as ever. "Please come in, nurse," he said amiably.. "Sister and I had a case to discuss oh, of course, you would know the case too, wouldn't you? A Mrs. Peters she came this afternoon, I believe." Janie looked swiftly at Sally, then at the doctor. ' "Indeed, yes, sir," she said eagerly, "a very difficult woman, if you will forgive my frankness. She was thoroughly objectionable " ' Laurence Chesfield put a hand to his lips, to hide a . smile . "So I believe, nurse," he agreed with apparent gravity, "but even the most tiresome patient has a right to courtesy and indulgence, don't you agree?" Instantly Janie's small face changed. Her dark eyes , became wary, and she Ipoked once again at Sally, as if for guidance. Gaining no enlightenment there, however, she braced her slight shoulders, and spoke almost defiantly. "Yes, I was rude," she admitted sweepingty, "and I do apologize, sir. I should know better, but well, she was annoying " Sally frowned indignantly, still far too shaken by the recent happenings to curb her impulsive tongue. "What on earth are you talking about, nurse?" she asked sharply. "You know as well as; I do that I was the culprit Mr. Chesfield knows it too. Mrs. Peters phoned him to complain of my rudeness. There is absolutely no need for you to shield me." Chesfield looked from one to the other, and then raised his eyebrows in some amusement. "Frankly, there is no need for either of you to play the scapegoat," he told them easily. "I have known Mrs. Peters for many years, and I couldn't agree more heartily with your summing up of her character and temperament. A thoroughly disagreeable soul, but still our patient, let me remind you. I have apologized to the wo103 man not for the first time, let me add! and have persuaded her to return to her Clinic visits again Do your best to keep her happy and contented, both of you, will you?"Sally turned away swiftly, unable to watch his smile as he appealed to them. She felt a fierce stab of jealousy aeainst Janie, unreasonable as she knew it to be, that the girl should be included in Chesfield's charm and appeal What right had he to include the young nurse in this conversation, anyway? What had happened concerned only herself and Chesfield it was against all hospital eti- ' quette to criticize a Sister in front of a nurse in this way . . .She pulled herself together, aware that she was behaving with unforgivable childishness. Janie had instantly tried to take die blame for the trivial error, and even if Sally did not need her support and protection, at least she might feel grateful instead of resentful! Janie was her friend, and how was she to know that Salty felt anydiing more for Ghesfield than the admiration and respect she had always professed? Or the thought crept insidiously into Sally's brain did Janie know differently, now? Could it have been Janie who had opened the door and, having witnessed the very fervent embrace, had gone away to reannounce her arrival? At the mere possibility of such an explanation, Sally felt her cheeks burn with self-contempt and shame. What on earth had possessed Chesfield to take her in his arms and kiss her? Did it mean that he loved her, even as she loved him ? Of course, sir," she heard Janie say, and wondered vaguely what question the girl was answering. Realizing that the doctor was looking at her inquiringly, she tried to collect her wandering dioughts, and then remembered they had been discussing Mrs. Peters. She, tried to smile intelligently. "It shall not happen again, Doctor," she said calmly, "I can promise you that. I was there anything more we had to discuss?" 104 "I think not, thank you. Sister," he said formally. "Ac, tualty I only called in as I happened to be passing and ! 'wanted to dean up any understanding about the Peters 'woman, I shall see you both on Thursday, of course. Oh, : and I am sending along a young girl Rene Packson a case of long-standing headaches which are due, I think, to sinus inflammation. I'll see her with you, and we can arrange treatment. Good night, both of you." He went out, leaving Sally and Janie together. The moment the door dosed behind him. Sally felt a sudden tension in the room as, for the first time she had met the girl, she felt uncomfortable in her presence, afraid of what she might say. "Is there any need for me to stay, Sister?" Janie asked simply. Sally, flushing slightly, looked at the girl' in some surprise. "But we're off duty now, Janie," she reminded her gently. "Why the formality?" Janie turned away. "I prefer it," she said queerly. "I'm always afraid I might forget, when we are on duty, and call' you 'Sally'. ' I I'd prefer to stick to 'Sister', even off duty, if you don't object." It sounded a very lame excuse, and Sally, thoroughly startled by the girl's behaviour, wondered miserably what was the better thing to do pretend not to notice any change in the nurse, or openly ask her what was wrong? If Janie had seen her with Chesfield, would that account for her formality? But if there was some other cause, and Sally asked her point-blank if she had come into the room without noticing it, what on earth would the girl think? She turned towards the door impatiently, angry at her own fears, wishing that she could have wiped out the past hour from her life. Following hard on the heels of this thought, however, came a violent protest against it would she honestly have given up the past hour for the rest of her life,put together? Laurence loved her . . .'did anything in the world realty matter, beside that miraculous fact? 105 "Just as you wish," she said casually, anxious now to be alone. "I'm going home, nurse. Everything is ready for tomorrow?" "Yes, Sister." Just for a brief moment Salty was touched by the wistful note in the girl's voice. She half-hesitated, and glanced back at Janie. Then, as if contemptuous of her own decision, she said, 'Good night', briefly and went out of the Clinic, closing the door firmly behind her. If Janie wanted to wait until she. Salty, had gone well, let her. She had no heart to bother about the silly, temperamental girl tonight. There was far too much to be thought over, and faced up to , _things far, more important than a rather over-sensitive nurse. ' Back in her own room at last, Salty sat on her bed and stared across at the window. She could see the roof-tops of Merry's and she wondered, rather hazily, if Chesfield were still there, or whether he had gone home. . . . Home! The word jerked her back to sanity, scattering her dreams like chaff before a high find. By this time, probably, Chesfield was on his way back to his home and to his wife. He might love Sally indeed, obviously he did love her but when he had kissed her, held her in his arms he must still leave her and return to the woman who bore'his name, and wore his ring. No matter where his heart belonged, it was to his home that his loyalty belonged, and, being the man that he was, that was where it would always belong, of that she was certain. Knowing these things, where could she hope to find any happiness in this new and rapturous relationship ? She got up restlessly, and crossed to the window. She saw Alan Trenton pause at the gate, and she drew back, desperately anxious that she should not be seen by him. Not tonight, She whispered fervently she co
uld not possibly meet Alan so soon after this wonderful and bewildering new discovery of Laurence's love. A moment later the door-bell rang, and then Mrs. Grant's voice called Sally's name."I I'm coming," Salty said wearily, going' to the door of her room and out on to the landing. Below, in the hall106 way, Alan stood looking up, his homely face tired and somewhat dispirited. "I'm sorry, Alan," she began hesitantly, "but I'm very tired I don't feel up to coming out, as a matter of fact. I'd planned to wash my hair, too " He did not smile, merely shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't come to ask you out," he said bluntly. "Matron asked me to call, as I was passing. Merely wanted you to know that she will need Janie on a case in the morning and will supply you with some other nurse in her place. Only temporarily, of course." "I see." Sally frowned slightly, hurt by his manner and by the blunt way he had disposed of her belief that he had come to invite her to go out with him. " That's very kind of you to call, I mean. I" she smiled uncertainly "I don't see much of you these days." "No." Mrs. Grant sniffed, looked from one to the other, and then stamped down the passage-way to the kitchen. Sally, suddenly realizing that Alan might have been too shy to speak before the landlady, laughed softly, and came down the' stairs. "I expect you've been too busy," she offered awkwardly, wondering how to break the silence. "I never knew Merry's so fully occupied, did you? The Clinic is absolutely impossible some days no end to the patients. But it's so absorbing you remember that young Harold who came down from your ward, for suspected adenoids? That turned out to be quite, an interesting case, and Mr. Chesfield was saying, only yesterday, that he wasn't fully convinced even now, that the infection was coming from there " She stopped, uncomfortably aware that Alan wasn't taking the slightest interest in what she was saying. He was staring at her queerly, almost she thought in sudden pnic as if he had never really seen her'before! Could that mean could it have been Alan who opened the door of the Clinic earlier, and saw her with Chesfield? "I bore you," she offered with brightness. "I'm sorry." "You needn't be," he said flatty. "I never did care to talk shop outside the hospital but maybe you've for107 gotten that fact. You seem quite good at forgetting things you no longer wish to remember." She flushed, suddenly annoyed. "That's an unpleasant remark," she' said shortty. "Did you come here just to annoy me?" "Isfo just to carry a message from Matron," he reminded her. Then, to her discomfiture, his face changed, and became anxious, pleading. "What's wrong, Salty?" he asked urgently. "What's gone wrong between us ? It's as if you go out of your way to avoid me, these days, whereas once I dared to think, to hope " She drew back, her face hot with embarrassment. Unconsciously she put out a hand as if to keep him away from her. "I I'm sorry, Alan," she began hurriedly. "I just seem to have no spare time these days, that's all. Perhaps later when we slacken off a little. I I haven't forgotten your invitation, you know. I still want to meet your family, one day. That reminds me" she smiled brightly. "What about your sister the one who wants to be a nurse?" "Wanted," he corrected her quietly. "She has decided against it. She was terribly disappointed when you didn't come, after I promised her you would. She seemed to think you couldn't be very keen on nursing, yourself, if you couldn't be,, bothered to encourage youngsters to follow in your footsteps! Oh, most unreasonable but you know what kids are! You have to strike whilst the iron is hot if you'll pardon the cliche!' , She stared at him in dismay a dismay tempered by a touch of impatience. ----"But that's scarcely fair," she objected. "Surety she could have waited? It wasn't all that urgent, and nothing has changed." . He looked at her steadily, his grey eyes filled with weariness. "Hasn't it, Sally?" he asked simply. "She was too young to stay in love with an idea for long, unless somebody gave her the necessary push in the right direction. Youdi can be terribly impatient, and my sister is no excep108 tion. But don't think I'm blaming you, my dear maybe it's all for the best." "But it isn't," she cried miserably. "I feel to blame-now surety you realize that? I wish you hadn't told me. I feel I have let her down somehow, and that was the last thing I wanted." He took her hands and held them loosely, looking into her troubled face. __ "I wonder if you will ever know just what you do want, Salty?" he asked strangely. "Growing up can be so painful for some of us I hope you will not find it too bad." Speechless with surprise and resentment, she snatched her hands from his and turned away from him, more angry than she could remember for many a long month, "Sally " he began. She walked away from him, up the stairs, and still without a word, went back to her room. A few minutes later she heard the front door dose, and then listened to his footsteps down the path and out' into the street. She heard them go across the road and then vanish from her hearing. It wasn't until she guessed him to be back inside the hospital that she unclenched her hands and tried to control her rising temper. How dare he! To accuse her, Sally Marthorpe, Sister of Merrison's Hospital, of being childish, immature, not fully grown up! Just because his young sister, obviously - not old enough to know her own mind, had decided against nursing! If'she had no more wish to be a nurse than that, then it was just as well she had decided aginst it, for, everybody's sake. As for daring to speak to her as he had done, she would find it difficult to be civil to him again, let alone visit his family. He was impossible, She felt irritable and restless the next day, prone to be hypercritical of everything and everybody. She concentrated on her work with her usual efficiency, however, and it was only in the more personal matters, such as dealing with the nurses and patients individually that--she allowed a slight acerbity to come ihto her voice. She watched Janie dosely, too, noting to her annoyance that the girl was assuredly returning to her former slipshod methods, her earlier 9 carelessness. 109. She spoke to her sharply when Janie dropped an earsyringe, and was shocked to see tears in the nurse's eyes when-the girl turned to apologize. "All right, nurse," she said placatingty. "No need to be so upset. Just try to be careful." It was the first of many such incidents, and, as the afternoon drew to a dose, Sally found herself relieved to be spared the necessity of witnessing any further mishaps. Just before the Clinic closed. Matron phoned through to say that Chesfield was on his way over. Sally, receiving the news, felt her heart lurch excitedly, and was aware of a pulse starting to beat rapidly and exultantly in her throat. Laurence would be with her in a few minutes she would see him again. With their exchanged kiss a sweet secret between them, she must speak to him as a formal employee, take good care to hide the tumultuous excitement which must be in both their hearts in this shared moment. Just before she expected him, Sally could bear the tension no longer. Making the excuse that she wished to visit the dispensary for a certain drug, she hurried from die surgery, through the waiting-room, and into die corridor. Here, for a brief moment, she would see when he came, prepare him and herself for the ordeal of being together in public. Maybe she colored hotly at the diought maybe he would kiss her again. . . . She pushed the thought away from her determinedty, smiling at the absurdity of the thought of a surgeon and a Sister kissing in the shadows of a hospital corridor! She saw him coming, and drew back against the whitewashed wall He walked easily, almost eagerly, she thought lovingly maybe he, too, was longing to see her again and remind her of their mutual love. His tanned' face was coming near to her now, and she stepped out, speaking his name. "Why, Sister I am not late, am I? You were not expecting me earlier?" She opened her lips to speak, then closed them again. ' She swallowed nervously, clasping her hands before her in 6he manner of a small child suddenly scolded for something she did not understand. Then 110 "Why why no, doctor,1" she heard herself saying quietly. "'I was just going to dispensary . . . that's all." His smile seemed to hold relief, and his eyes twinkler. "Don't let me keep you. Sister," he said easily. "I'll wait in the surgery. Nurse Frensham is there, no doubt? I'll see you when you return." She watched him go, wondering if she was losing her reason. What on earth had happened? How could he speak to her that way, so soon after their last fond meeting? Could anyone have supposed, witnessing their present meeting, diat diey had recently kissed? Was that the same man who had whispered her name to tenderly, held her so
dose? She put her hand to her brow, pushing back a stray lock of flaxen hair. She wondered, with a sudden hilarity which was dangerously near to hysteria, if she had dreamed up the whole inddent of Laurence's kiss out of her wishful imagination! It was some time before she could bring herself to return to the surgery. When she did so she found diat the doctor had borrowed a white coat from die cupboard and was examining one of her patients. She scarcely knew whether to accept this as a reproof or not, but when he was satisfied with the case, he stood up and smiled at Sally. "I thought I might as well keep my hand in. Sister," he said kindly enough. "What I really came for was to ask you to see a young patient of mine who is bodiering me. I'd like your opinion on him, if you can spare the time." Salty flushed happily, all her recent fears dispelled. Why, this was flattery indeed to be asked for an opinion, before Nurse Frensham, too, and by a man such as Laurence Chesfield! She tried to keep her voice steady as she gave him her ready agreement, and he nodded as if satisfied. "Thank you. Sister. I'll .wait whilst you see your other patients,' if you've no objection, then we can see young Jimmy togedier. Nurse, if you will call Sister's next patient, please?" Nurse Frensham turned to comply with his request. As she did so, she bumped against the small trolley-table, knocking some small instruments to the ground. Sally started and looked quickly at Chesfield, an apology for the 111 nurse mounting instinctively to her lips. Chesfield, however, merely raised his eyebrows, then turned away to look out'of die window, Janie, scarlet-faced and trembling, picked up the instruments and put them on one side for re-sterilization. When she had gone to the door, Laurence said quietly to'Salty, "She is very nervous. Do you know why?" For a wretched moment she stared at him dumbly, wondering if the same suspicions were in his mind as had been in hers. Janie had certainly been on edge, and even more sensitive than usual all day and this final catastrophe, in Chesfield's presence, would seem to point to some particular irritation which was upsetting the girl. Yet, if she had witnessed the scene the previous evening, would she keep it to herself? "I no, I don't. Doctor," she said at last, her eyes pleading for some explanation of his formality. "She is a very good nurse, you know, although appearances might be against her just now " He smiled at her, and coming closer to her, touched her hand gently, reassuringly. "Don't fret so, Sally," he said simply. "Keep calm, my dear. Things have a habit of working out, you know." Before she could answer, the next patient came in, and time for conversation. When the time came for Jimmy to come in, Chesfield was looking somewhat anxiously at his watch. "This Clinic certainly hangs out rather late," he said impatiently. "I had no idea it was like this every day. Maybe we should have more help? That would need expansion, however, and I can't see that it would work if we split up the patients betw'een two doctors, or two Sisters. What do you think?" She pushed back all idea of.. tiredness, forgot her longing for a cup of tea, and shook her head emphatically. "We can manage perfectly, Doctor," she told him firmly. "Sometimes there are only a few patients in the afternoon, and we can finish easily by four." She was aware of Janie's eyes fixed on her, slightly mocking, as she lied to the doctor. Later, she told her' self indignantly, she must speak to Janie about her be112 I havior. Really, the girl was impossible, the way she watched both Chesfield and herself every moment they ; were in the room together! In the Army it was known as , "dumb insolence," and if Janie thought she could get '' away with it at Merry's, then she was mistaken. Jimmy proved a tractable enough child, and, after a brief consultation, it was decided to have him as an inpatient in Alan Trenton's ward, for dose supervision. When the child had been taken off by a nurse, Chesfield stood up and stretched himself wearily. "You must have some tea," she began eagerly. "You're" tired " She stopped short, noting his frown. Realizing that Janie was still in the room she flushed unhappily, and bit her lip:, "I think I will, Sister," he said quietly. "It has been a busy day, and not finished yet. I'll call in on Matron she is always anxious for me to have tea with her. I'll be in on Thursday, of course. Good-bye Sister, good-bye nurse." They watched him go, and then, in-a constrained silence, they began to wind up the Clinic, Janie ti'dying and cleaning, and Salty sorting papers and entering up the casebook. They did not speak and, as the minutes ticked by, the silence became more and more irksome, less possible to break. At last, unable to bear it any longer, Sally looked up, just in time to catch Janie's dark eyes fixed broodingly upon her. "Anything wrong, nurse?" she asked simply. The girl turned away. "No, Sister. I I'm sorry about the upset." "It was a pity it had to be when 'Mr. Chesfield was here," Sally agreed mildly. '"Did you have a -headache?" Janie swung round, sudden anger in her eyes. "No, I didn't," she began rather wildly. "I'm not one of those women who hide behind a supposed headache every time they do anything foolish! I was just clumsy, as you know quite well I've always been clumsy, haven't I?" Sally tried to keep patient. "Not until the last day or two," she said calmly, after a brief pause. "Granted, you were a little bit nervous when 113 you first came here that is- a natural fault with a probationer, especially here, with the Matron keeping so keen an eye on everybody and noting every small error. But since you joined me, I have found no cause for camplaint, until " "Well?" Janie said forcibly, as Sally stopped, aware that she was treading on dangerous ground, "Until when, Sister?" Sally did not answer. Aware that her hand was trembling violently, she tried to hide the fact from the nurse. "How do I know the exact hour it started?" she inquired rather sharply. "All I do know is that if you grow careless again I shall have no alternative but to report you. I must have the very best for my Clinic " Janie's face was very pale now. "And somebody very discreet, maybe?" Sally swung round, unable to believe her ears. For one awful moment the two women stared at one another, Janie's face stiff with defiance. Sally's with amazement. Then, when the tension grew unbearable, suddenly Janie seemed to snap. She -slumped against the table, shaking- it badly as she did so, and almost upsetting the ink. "Forgive me," she whispered brokenly. "I must have been mad, Sister! I didn't mean it honestly I didn't. I can't think what got into me. I'm not very happy just now, and everything seems to upset me. No no " as Sally would have spoken, "it's nothing to do with my work, or with the hospital just a private matter. I know one should never allow one's private life to interfere with one's work, but" she shrugged her thin shoulders defencelessty "sometimes one cannot help it, can one. Sister?" Salty put her hand to her head, wearily. Poor Janie, she thought dully what a blind fool she. Sally, had been, assuming that Janie was upset because Salty and Chesfield were fond of one another. Obviously the girl had her own troubles; maybe her own unhappy love affair. And who was she, to find fault with her if she allowed these matters to intrude upon her working-hours ? "It's all right nurse," she said generously, knowing a rush of the old affection she had once felt for the girl. "I, understand, I do indeed. But you must try not to 114 allow yourself to get nervy, or dumsy. I want you to work with me, you know diat. I would be terribly disappointed if anything went wrong widi our partnership now." The girl's eyes douded over with tears. For a minute she stood staring at Sally, obviously wanting to say more, but unable to find die words. Then, with an incoherent remark, she turned and went out of die Clinic, leaving Salty alone. For a day or two Janie's behavior was exemplary. On die Thursday, however, when Chesfield came, she slipped up more than once, finally causing die surgeon to speak sharply to her. When Salty came to check up on the attendance-cards later, she found, to her dismay, that diere were two bad faults amongst the entries. She altered diem carefully, checking and rechecking to make quite certain of her facts, and then, instead of going back to her own house, she wandered out into the hospital grounds and sat on a seat under a gigantic old oak-tree, trying to work things out in her troubled mind. This could not go on, of course. She liked Janie, had always liked her indeed, were it not for her own liking for the girl, Janie would have been dismissed long since. But there was die making of a good nurse in -her, of that Salty was convinced, or rattier had been convinced. Now she was no longer sure. Certainly the Clinic must not suffer just because
she felt sorry for the girl. Sentiment must never interfere in work. That was a rule she had set hersdf right at the beginning of her career. She looked up and saw, with some relief, that Alan Trenton was swinging down the padi towards her. His white coat hung open, and he had his hands in his trouser pockets. Seeing her, he frowned slighdy, and dien came up to the seat. 'I'm glad you're here," she said impulsively. "I'm a bit worried, and I believe you could help me with your advice. It's about Janie, actually." He looked at her inquiringly. "Jaflie Frensham," she went on, thinking he did not understand of whom she spoke. "The little nurse who helps . me. Remember?" 115 "I hadn't forgotten," he teased her quizzically. "I know Janie very well. Has the makings of a first-class nurse." She looked surprised. "You think so?" she asked. He took a pipe from his pocket, lit it, and puffed at it calmly before he answered her. "Don't you?" he inquired mildly. "I always thought you were her one and only champion, so far as Matron is concerned." She frowned unhappily. "I was I am," she corrected uneasily, "but just lately well, she's been pretty hopeless. Even Mr. Chesfield has noticed, and as you know, I can't allow sentiment to enter into the matter, can I? I never think one should have personal likes and dislikes in hospital life." He surveyed his pipe thoughtfully, and there was an oddly bitter twist to his lips. "That sounds rather strange, coming from you. Sally," he said quietly. She drew back as if he had slapped her, her cheeks hot with color. "I don't know just what that is supposed to mean," she said angrily, "but I still want your advice. Look, Alan try and see this from my point of view. Janie is making mistakes, some of them serious. For instance just now I found errors in the atte'ndance-cards. I can go on covering up for her, for a time, but am I justified in doing so? Janie is making a fool of herself, I'm afraid " He stood up suddenly, and looking up in some surprise, Sally realized that his face was quite pale with anger. "And is she die only one?" he demanded tersely. "Seems to me it's about time you re-read that little thing about people who live in glass houses, my dear Sally. Don't be so busy chucking stones that you leave your own windows open to attack, will you?" He strode off, leaving her gaping after him. "Why why, you " she began incoherently, the words almost choking her "How dare you! Oh, Alan how could you " She sat there for some time, trying to gain comppsure before going home. What on earth had got into everybody, she wondered miserably? Nothing ever seemed to go right 116 nowadays and if even Alan was against her, to whom could she turn now? Oh, she had treated him abominably, of course nobody knew 'diat better ttian she, but was d-iere any need for him to be quite so objectionable just when she needed his advice? She did not know when the decision first came to her. But before she got up to go home, she knew she must leave Merry's. It was no good trying to persuade herself any longer that her work here was too important to leave. Ever since she had met Laurence Chesfield again, and particularly since she knew that he loved her, she had been deceiving herself. There could be no happiness for diem together and if, they were bodi unhappy, in due time their work must Suffer. Laurence's work was his life . . . all right, dien, it must be hers, too. But not by his side. That was asking too much of human nature. She was going dirough the gates when one of the Ward Sisters joined her. At one time Uiey had worked together and had become quite friendly. "How do you like working with Chesfidd?" the girl asked casually, as they paused outside the gate. Sally tried to appear unmoved by die question. "I love it," she said calmly. "Who could help enjoying a job widi him? He's so buried in his work, you know; so intensely interested in everydiing connected with it. He is so good at listening to opinons, too, unlike many doctors I could mention!" ; The girl looked a bit dubious. "Sounds a bit of a, bore, if you ask me," she said teasingty after a moment. "Still, one can't altogether blame him, poor chap. They say he has a pretty mouldy time of it at home. Is-it true diat his marriage has turned out a complete flop?""I have no idea," Sally said stiffly, hating herself for die dirill of pleasure die other girl's words gave her. "I don't know Mrs. Chesfield." "Neidier do I," the girl admitted laughingly, "but I know somebody who does, and she told me his wife hasn't one scrap of interest in his job never has had. Well, I must be getting along, Salty see you soon." 117 Sally thought seriously about Janie during the next weeks, and also about her own decision to leave Merry's. More than once she went towards Matron's room with the intention of asking for a transfer, and each time sne turned back before reaching the room. One evening, sitting in her own room, staring across at the hospital, she played with the idea of writing to the Matron, so as to save a personal interview. But what of Janie? she wondered. How could she allow somebody else to take on the little nurse, without warning Matron of Janie's renewed carelessness ? The phone rang downstairs, and a moment later Mrs. Grant called her name. "For you," she said loudly. "The hospital wants you. Emergency op, it seems, and Chesfield is asking for you." "But that's absurd " Sally began automatically, even whilst her cheeks colored with pleased surprise, "Theatre Sister is on duty he can't posisbly interfere " "Come and tell him so yourself, then," Mrs. Grant said impatiently, in a manner very unlike her usual kindly self. "I can't argue with the man, can I?" Sally went down to the phone, and spoke into the mouthpiece. Immediately she heard Chesfield's voice, terse and abrupt, filled with a strange urgency. "Sally Sister " he began jerkily, "I wonder could you possibly come over right away? There is an urgent appendectomy Trenton is operating, and I want you to help "Salty stared into the mouthpiece incredulously. "But that's absurd!" she exclaimed thoughtlessly, forgetting hospital etiquette in her surprise, "Dr. Trenton must Sick his own team, and I'm not on duty. In any case, I on't see why you should phone me how does the case ., concern you?""It concerns me right enough, Sister," he told her impatiently, "I want you to come. I've arranged everything with Trenton. Salty it's my wife. Will you come please?" 118
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