The Newcomer

by Hilda Pressley

  . . Miss Bridges, Jim's receptionist

  Sara blinked as she held out her hand to a self-possessed young woman with the, most up-to-the-minute and expensive-looking hair-do.

  and of course Jim you've already met.'

  He met her gaze in a long, sardonic look, his lips curving in some hidden amusement.

  Good evening, Dr Crombie,' she said, in the voice of one challenging an adversary to a duel, determined not to let him have any advantage over her.

  Good evening, Dr Martindale,' he answered with mock politeness.

  Alys looked from one to the other. And what's the matter with you two ? Not sworn enemies already ? ' Then, as her husband ushered in another guest: Ah, there you are, Oliver, come and meet our new doctor.'

  A tall, lithe figure of a man sauntered up to them, and at once he reminded Sara of an Australian bushman or lanky cowboy. -

  He smiled broadly, and said, Hello, there,' before Alys had time to make the introduction.

  ' Wait for it, wait for it,' she laughed. Sara, this is Oliver Clayton, one of the foresters. Oliver, Dr Sara Martindale.'

  Sara held out her hand. Glad to meet you, Mr Clayton.'

  His large hand closed over hers. ' Oh, not Mister— please. We're going to be friends—I hope.'

  I hope so, too—Oliver.'

  Well, isn't it touching I ' came from Jim Crombie.

  Now then, Jim, don't be rude,' admonished Alys. Pay no attention to him, Sara. He can be like this at times, but his bark is much worse than his bite.'

  ' So I believe,' she answered, aware of a feeling of pain deep inside her. But I wish to goodness he'd go and bark at someone else for a change. It gets rather tiresome.'

  There was a general laugh, and someone said: Oh, I say, that's one in the eye, Jim, if you like.'

  That's all right,' he said easily. I can ride those kind of punches without a great deal of trouble.'

  Sara turned an especially warm smile on Oliver, to Whom she had taken a genuine liking.

  ' I'm tremendously interested in forestry, even though

  I know little about it. It must be a most interesting and satisfying job.'

  I find it so. Have you seen much of the Chase since you've been here ? '

  A little. I love it. I think it's beautiful. I drive through at every opportunity.'

  She saw his interest quicken. Well now, if you're so interested, maybe you'd like me to show you round. There's a lot more to it, you know, than you see from the road.'

  Alys's husband, Bob, put a drink into their hands, and they went on talking.

  There's nearly two hundred square miles of the forestry, you know. We supply timber for housing requirements, fences, wood pulp for paper and of course for the hardboard factories at Ketford,' Oliver told her.

  Sara smile ruefully. ' How terribly commercial that sounds ! I'm afraid I've been romanticizing the forest. My mind hadn't seen further than the trees themselves, their beauty.'

  But that's nice. I'm glad you do see things that way. There are some beautiful trees. Specially beautiful, I mean. Trees grown for their appearance alone, not for commercial purposes at all.'

  ' Ah ! In that case, I shall look forward to your showing me round, Oliver.'

  Jim Crombie strolled passed and murmured to Oliver: ' Watch it. She's got a barbed wit, old son.' Then he was through the door before Oliver could answer.

  He grinned at Sara. Been getting the better of him, have you ? '

  ' It would appear so. I'm afraid he'll never forgive me for being a woman.'

  Oliver laughed. He ought to be glad of it. I am.'

  ' What I mean is: Dr Henderson didn't say he was having a woman doctor for an assistant. Dr Crombie

  thought another man was coming. It was just one of Dr Henderson's jokes.'

  Oh, I see. Come to think of it, I didn't know myself until the other day when Alys asked me along to meet you. But poor old Jim. There's been so many efforts to pair him off, and so many girls hankering after him, he's sorta got browned off, I suppose. He seems to have developed quite an allergy to women— fortunately,' he added, smiling into her eyes significantly.

  Her lips curved in amusement. Now, now, don't get too bold.'

  Alys called them into the dining-room for dinner, and Sara found she was sitting next to Oliver, with Jim Crombie and his receptionist opposite. Miss Bridges was one woman to whom he did not seem to be allergic, she noticed. He paid her the most courteous attention throughout the meal, and Sara also noticed that they were on first-name terms. Her name was Nina, and Sara could not help wondering whether she was more than just a receptionist to him. She certainly was a most attractive girl—cool and a little aloof perhaps, but maybe that was the kind of woman he liked.

  Suddenly, the cool grey eyes met hers across the table, and Sara realized she must have been staring rather at the other girl.

  She smiled. I was just admiring your hair-style, Miss Bridges. Do tell me the name of your hairdresser. I shall be needing one myself from time to time.'

  I have it done here in the village at Annette's,' she answered, and immediately turned to Jim Crombie again.

  There was such a lack of friendliness in the girl's voice, Sara felt virtually snubbed. But determined not to let her feelings show, she turned to Mrs Ready, the Rector's wife who was seated at her other side.

  ' I expect you lead a very busy life, Mrs Ready, both you and your husband,' she remarked.

  Mrs Ready's smile was instantaneous. ' Yes, we do, rather. Much of the village life centres round the church. Apart from the usual things like the Sunday School and Sunday services, there's the mothers' Union—my province, of course. My husband has a. Men's Bible Class, and together, we run the youth club.'

  Sara didn't think these things sounded very exciting, admirable though they were. And she doubted, in her own mind whether the Rector and his wife were the right people to run a Youth Club, both being middle-aged.

  Can't you get some of the village people to run the Youth Club ? ' she asked, adding, not wanting to offend: It would relieve you and your husband of a lot of work.'

  Oh, we don't mind, we understand our young people,' Mrs Ready answered a little complacently. ' The village people do help with all church work, naturally, but a farming community is a very busy one. They have to work according to the weather. Farmers are rather like you doctors. They have few set working hours.'

  This was undoubtedly true, and many people in Sara's place would have murmured agreement, if only for politeness' sake, and changed the subject. But Sara had an enquiring mind, and found her interest in the social aspect of the life of the village quickening.

  ' But surely not all the inhabitants are farmers, now, are they ? ' she queried. There must be shop assistants, for instance. You have quite a little shopping centre on the main street. And aren't there a. number of factory workers, too ? '

  It isn't as easy to integrate newcomers into the life of the community as you might imagine, Doctor,' Mrs.

  Ready answered coolly. Some of them just don't

  want to be integrated. My husband makes a special point of visiting every family that moves into the village, and making them feel welcome. Unfortunately, so many of them are irreligious. And our church life is not all Mothers' Union and Bible Class. We have a social club, a drama group, Scouts and Guides.'

  `Perhaps they feel that if they join these things, especially the social club and the drama group, they'd be obliged to go to church, too.'

  They're not obliged to.'

  ' No, but they might feel as if they are,' Sara insisted, not out of a desire to argue, but in order to understand the problem and to find a solution. ' I suppose at one time, the social life of the village did centre round the church, but it may be that there's a need now for a social centre which is not attached to the church. Any church.'

  A noticeable silence followed this, and Sara suddenly realized that everybody else had stopped talking, and had been listening to what she said.


  Then, in a loud voice, pointedly changing the subject, Mrs Williams, the farmer's wife, spoke across the table to Mrs Ready.

  Anne, how is Philip these days ? Have you heard from him lately ? '

  Mrs Ready answered her, and Sara felt shut out of the conversation. And across the table, Jim Crombie was eyeing her, that—by now—familiar smile of amusement on his face.

  CHAPTER III

  Sara turned to Oliver again, and asked him how long he had been living and working in the area.

  ' Five years,' he murmured in her ear, and I'm still a foreigner.' Then, in a more normal voice, But I'm used to changes. The Forestry Commission move us from one place to another fairly frequently.'

  Sara warmed towards him. She had one friend, at least, in East Norton. Evidently she had annoyed the Rector's wife by what she had said. But surely a woman of her education could listen to a point of view without taking it as personal criticism ? Or had she given Mrs Ready the impression of being irreligious herself ? She would have liked to explain in more detail what she had meant. That she saw the church, not as a building, but as a fellowship which embraced everybody, and that if people did not go to church as such, then the church ought surely to go out to them ? That as long as people were brought together, that was all that mattered. But she thought better of it. She might only make matters worse.

  The meal progressed, and afterwards, Alys Henderson served coffee in her sitting-room. Sara tried to talk to the Rector himself, but felt he put up a wall of politeness between them. His wife and Mrs Williams talked exclusively to each other, and addressed one another as ' Anne ' and ' Dora '. Uncle John, his son Bob and Mr Williams became deep in a discussion about aspects of farming, while Jim Crombie appeared to have quite a lot to say to Nina Bridges, his receptionist.

  Oliver Clayton brought his chair close to Sara's. When are you going to let me show you round the forestry, then ? Would. Sunday suit you ? '

  Sara smiled. ' I should think so, thanks very much. There'll be no surgery, and I can do the calls in the morning. Shall we say after lunch—about two-thirty ? '

  This pleased him, and he said he would call for her. Hope it doesn't rain, but even if it does, we can have a run round and maybe have tea somewhere.'

  The evening broke up quite early. Mr and Mrs Williams were the first to leave, and they were followed quickly by the Rector and his wife. A short while afterwards, Jim stood up and said he'd better be off and offered to drive Nina home.

  ' Where do you live, Nina ? ' asked Sara, making another effort- at friendliness.

  ' At Hockham St Mary,' Nina answered briefly. 'Is it far ? '

  Four or five miles.'

  Sara asked in which direction and how she travelled to work. Nina hesitated so long before replying, Sara thought for a moment she wasn't going to at all. Then she said, in a sort of heavy patience as one might to a child who has asked too many questions:

  It's midway between here and Ketford and sometimes I travel by scooter, sometimes by car and sometimes Jim runs me home.'

  Jim stood by, that infuriating smile on his face, as if he were enjoying seeing Sara's discomfiture. But Sara smiled.

  Well, that's very nice of Dr Crombie. Goodnight, Miss Bridges. I'm glad to have met you.'

  Alys brought Nina's coat, and the two went, leaving Oliver, Uncle John and Sara.

  ' How early things break up in the country. Is it always like this ? ' asked Sara.

  John Henderson nodded: . 'They go to bed early in the country. At least, the farming community do. Partly out of habit, partly from necessity. Cows still have to be milked at crack of dawn.'

  Sara gave a puzzled frown. But why do they ? know that if they're not milked at the proper time the poor things are in pain. But surely they could be milked later in the evening, and so later in the morning. Twelve-hourly, in other words.'

  Bob and Uncle John laughed. She's got a theory for everything, hasn't she ? ' Bob said to the company in general.

  Well, you tell me what's wrong with that one,' Sara told him. Milk isn't delivered at six o'clock in the morning as it used to be, and it's not delivered in the pail.'

  No, my dear, but it still has to be distributed as soon as possible. Refrigeration. is costly, the milk has to be collected from the farms and taken to the dairies for bottling. In spite of those efforts, nobody ever gets today's milk today. But if the farmer didn't get up at crack of dawn and milk the cows, there'd be even more delay. Milk might even be two days old when you got it.'

  Oh, I see,' said Sara, understanding dawning. Oliver murmured that he had better be going, but .Alys wouldn't hear of it.

  Oh, you mustn't all go. Nobody here has to get up and milk the cows. Sit clown, everybody, and we'll have a drink and a nice cosy chat.'

  Sara certainly thought the atmosphere was lighter now the others had gone.

  I'm afraid I upset the Rector's wife,' she said ruefully.

  My dear,' said Alys, ' you have to feel your way with people around here. The slightest thing and they feel you're criticizing them. I think you touched on a sore point with Mrs Ready.'

  Oh dear. But how awful if you have to go around merely making polite, meaningless conversation.'

  And that, my dear Sara, you're too intelligent to

  do—just be content to speak in polite phrases,' John Henderson put in.

  But you have to give people time to get to know you,' argued Alys.

  So you think I was wrong to speak as I did ? But I was interested. I got carried away, and I suppose I was rather taking it for granted that as a parson's wife, she'd be able to discuss it.'

  And so she should have been,' Oliver said. I

  don't think Sara should go around afraid of treading on everybody's corns. If Mrs Ready couldn't take it, if the newcomers to the village are on her conscience, that's just too bad. If she's sincere, she ought to be grateful to Sara. I heard what Sara said, and I agreed with her entirely.'

  All the same, you can't expect a person to accept a new idea right away, just like that. Now take yourself, Sara. Suppose, when you'd been here for a number of years, some stranger came and suggested a better way of treating your patients. What would you say ?

  I'd accept it, of course,' Sara said quickly.

  Would you ? At first meeting ? '

  Sara considered. Lf a suggestion was made in the right spirit—yes, I would. Surely all intelligent men and women are seekers after truth. It's hard to take the truth when somebody is just being critical in a personal way.'

  All right,' Alys said.. Maybe you would, Sara. But few people are big enough, and if you want to help them, you have to be willing to go at their pace. I'm quite sure Mrs Ready will go away and think about what you've said. But it may not be her job to start a social centre unattached to the church. It's a pretty big thing to ask of her. A social club attached to the church is often a means of winning people to the good life. It isn't a parson's function merely to provide entertainment.'

  Sara agreed. ' The last thing I'd want to do, or suggest, or advocate is to take people away from church, but don't " all things work together for good " ? '

  You're right, Sara, and nobody is saying you're not. But if I were you, I'd. make friends with people first before you start making suggestions. Take a look around, see what there is in the village. Join the W.I., for instance.'

  At this, Uncle John burst out laughing. Ah ! Here it comes. I knew we'd get around to the W.I. sooner or later.'

  ' And why not ? ' Alys demanded indignantly. It's non-political, non-sectarian, and if that doesn't bind people together, I don't know what does.'

  Sara began to feel happy. This was what she loved. People just talking together, expressing their opinions without the constant fear of being taken the wrong way, or giving offence.

  She voiced this thought, and as she anticipated, someone said:

  ' But, Sara, frank expression of opinion isn't something you can expect between yourself and just anyone. It's usually among tried and trusted f
riends—or the highly intelligent.'

  ' Or the very old—who don't care whom they offend or the very young who are insensitive ? ' suggested John Henderson.

  I can agree with that, but not with what Bob has said. You can hardly call any of us here tried and trusted friends. At least, not so far as I'm concerned.'

  Nor me, either. In fact, Sara and I have only just met,' Oliver said.

  Sara went on to point out that though her father and Uncle John had been close friends, Alys and Bob and herself did not really know each other well.

  No, I suppose not,' Bob conceded. It just seems as though we have.'

  And Alys said, laughingly, All I can say is: We must be all highly intelligent I '

  It was generally agreed that people varied in the time they needed to get to know a person sufficiently well to be able to give and take honest opinions.

  ' But if you think I've been too outspoken with Mrs Ready,' Sara said, you should go up to Yorkshire.'

  I don't think you were too outspoken, in the least,' Oliver asserted. Maybe it's what we need in East Norton a sort of fresh breeze. And I'm certain Sara has more sense than to go around deliberately putting people's backs up.'

  Sara laughed. Thank you for those few kind words, Oliver.'

  All the same, she had some vague misgivings. How easy it was going to be to give offence without realizing it, and as a consequence, achieve nothing. Not that she had come to East Norton with the idea of achieving anything in particular, except to be a good doctor and be of some help to Uncle John. But now she was here, and had begun to meet people, she was feeling a concern, a sense of responsibility. This was not to say she intended starting some kind of campaign, but it could be that there was a job for her to do here, in this village, quite apart from doctoring. Everyone, surely, had a part to play in the life of any community to which they belonged.

  But for the next few days, at any rate, she was fully occupied with the job as general practitioner. A mild epidemic of sore throats and influenza developed in the area. Surgery was full twice a day, and calls came in at all hours of the day and night. In her efforts to spare Uncle John's heart, she was in and out of the house with barely time for meals, until in the end, John protested.