Honorary Surgeon (4 page)

“
It
’
s wonderful, isn
’
t it?
”
There was an unmistakable note of interest in Sir Richard
’
s voice, and for the first time since he had joined them he addressed himself to her.
“
I
love it too; it was really the garden which first attracted me to the place. You should see it properly in the daytime; it
’
s really perfect.
”

“
I should like to.
”
Mary
’
s reply was politely formal. She turned to Noel.
“
Perhaps we can come again one afternoon.
”

“
Rather! Whenever you like.
”
Noel handed his cigarette-case across the table.
“
Have one?
”

“
No, thanks.
”
Mary glanc
e
d at her wrist-watch.
“
It
’
s getting late; don
’
t you think it
’
s stopped raining yet? I really ought to be going.
”

“
Surely not yet?
”
Noel protested.
“
We
’
ll get back to town if you like, but now it
’
s so much cooler let
’
s go on and dance somewhere.
”

“
No, thanks, Noel; I
’
m much too tired,
”
Mary fibbed. She hated to tell Noel that she couldn
’
t wangle a late pass
every
time they went out, and somehow she hated to keep reminding him that she was no longer the unrestricted girl of four years ago, when the lateness of the evening was only judged by the amount of enjoyment they could fit into it, and lost hours of sleep were readily made good by a long morning in bed.

“
All right, my dear; I
’
ll go and see what the weather is doing.
”
Noel rose without further protest and disappeared through the doorway.

After Noel
’
s departure, silence fell between Sir Richard and Mary. His words, when at last he spoke, caused her to start in surprise. They were totally unlike the conventionally polite remark she was expecting.

“
I had imagined you rather different. How curiously nurses manage to hide their personality behind the starch of their uniforms.
”

So he had recognized her! He knew she was from St. Jude
’
s. Mary assumed a nonchalance she was far from feeling.
“
I
’
m sorry; I don
’
t understand you. In what way am I different?
”
A note of anger crept into her voice.

Sir Richard leaned towards her until Mary found herself staring unwillingly into a pair of smiling eyes.
“
I had considered you apathetic
...
dispirited. I was entirely wrong. I should say that spirit was the last thing you lacked. Why are you so antagonistic towards me
?”
So he had been alive to the fact that she had disliked his intrusion. Perhaps he was also aware that, unlike the other nurses, she remained entirely indifferent to him; or perhaps he had imagined that she, like Sister, would be thrown into a state of ecstasy by his mere proximity.

“
I
’
m sorry you consider me unfriendly; I assure you I didn
’
t intend to be.
”
There was no answering smile in Mary
’
s eyes.
“
After all, I scarcely know you.
”

“
Of course you don
’
t; and yet I
’
ve worked with you for months. Strange how remote one can remain in such circumstances. Won
’
t you smoke while you are waiting?
”
Sir Richard tendered his cigarette-case with an abrupt change of conversation.

“
No,
thanks; I can
’
t smoke Virginian. Do you mind if I have one of my own?
”

“
Wait; I
’
ll get you some.
”
Sir Richard made to rise, but Mary waved him to stay as she took her own cigarette-case from her bag.
“
Please don
’
t trouble; I have some here.
”
As she snapped open the case she was aware of Sir Richard
’
s scrutiny. A feeling of annoyance assailed her; how silly of her to have brought out her case, a present from her father
—
gold, with a neat monogram and clasp of diamonds. Naturally he must be wondering how a girl in her position could have come by such a thing.

“
What a charming and unusual design; may I see it?
”
Sir Richard took the case from Mary
’
s extended hand. As he held it, he took a sidelong glance at his
vis-a-vis.
Surely this must be the nurse that Noel Mayton had once told him about? He had himself been instrumental in assisting Noel to get the girl into the hospital, when a formidable waiting-list had made the matter somewhat difficult. He searched back in his mind in an effort to remember. Yes, of course; Noel had explained at the time. Her people had lost all their money, and she had been compelled to earn her own living after a pampered childhood. Perhaps that accounted for the arrogant tilt of her head, the cold formality of her voice; she had certainly made it clear that his presence was unwanted.

“
Sorry I
’
ve been so long,
”

_ Mary looked up to see Noel approaching. She felt immeasurably glad, and turned eagerly towards him.
“
Is it all right now? Shall we be moving?
”

“
The weather
’
s all right; it
’
s stopped raining,
”
Noel responded mournfully.
“
But I
’
m afraid we can
’
t be moving for quite a long while yet.
”

“
Why ever not? What
’
s the matter? You do look depressed.
”
Mary smiled at her friend
’
s lugubrious countenance.
“
What
’
s happened
?
”

“
I forgot to close the hood of the car. At the present moment it has the appearance of a swimming-pool, and a well-filled one at that!
”
Noel sank dejectedly into a chair.
“
Sorry, Mary. I
’
ve made a thorough mess of your evening; we can
’
t possibly move until they
’
ve finished bailing out, and then you
’
ll catch your death of cold sitting on a soaking seat.
”

“
Poor Noel! What a shame! It
’
s my fault too; I ought to have reminded you. But I expect they will dry it out all right; I can borrow a mackintosh or something to cover the seat.
”
Mary replied good-hu
m
ouredly.

“
Can
’
t I give Miss Grant a lift? My car is outside, and if it
’
s cleared up now, I shall be going straight back to town,
”
Sir Richard interrupted.

Even as he made the suggestion he was wondering in what spirit his offer would be accepted, for it appeared that the unfortunate circumstances might compel this stand-offish young lady to acquiesce. She would no doubt wish to be back in hospital by ten-thirty, and there was obviously no other possible means of conveyance.
“
Well?
”
he queried interrogatively.

And, before Mary could protest, Noel was eagerly accepting the offer.
“
That
’
s awfully decent of you, Alymer!
I don
’
t like the idea of her sitting in my damp bus all the way back to hospital.
”
He turned to Mary.
“
You
’
re wearing such a thin frock, too! It will be much better if you go with Sir Richard.
”

“
If you think it better.
”
Mary felt too tired to argue. After all, she reasoned, the car must be in an awful state for Noel to have agreed so readily to Sir Richard
’
s suggestion. She knew how he must loathe the idea of returning alone.

“
I
’
ll go and order my car, and wait for you outside.
”
Sir Richard turned on his heels, leaving Mary and Noel alone.

“
Noel, it seems mean to leave you.
”
Mary smiled wistfully.
“
I don
’
t particularly relish the journey home with Sir Richard, but if you think it best
...
”

“
Honestly, Mary, it
’
s the only thing. I
’
m not exaggerating; the upholstered cushions are positively floating.
”
Noel
’
s eyes twinkled.
“
Think what a treat
’
s in store for you; an hour
’
s
tete-
a
-tete
with the idol of St. Jude
’
s!
”

A few moments later Mary found herself comfortably ensconced in the back of Sir Richard
’
s car, which slowly gathered speed as it turned out on to the road from the gravelled drive.

“
Doesn
’
t seem any cooler, despite the storm.
”
Sir Richard lowered another window as he spoke.
“
There
’
s not a breath of air.
”

“
It
’
s awfully stuffy still,
”
Mary agreed.
“
Do you mind if I take my hat off? I
’
d like to feel the benefit of any air there is,
”
she explained as she removed her hat.

Sir Richard glanced at the gleaming halo of her hair.
“
You don
’
t appear to like head-coverings. I don
’
t think I blame you either,
”
he added significantly.

Mary felt her colour rising. She wasn
’
t sure whether the implied compliment or the unexpected allusion to the unfortunate episode of the afternoon angered her more, but, whichever the cause she blamed herself for provoking it by her thoughtless action. It was just like him to remind her of their respective positions; no doubt he was feeling piqued that she wasn
’
t showing the gratification and joy at this unexpected
tete-
a
-tete
which was expected of her.

In a tone as indifferent as she could muster, Mary changed the subject.
“
I do hope I am not taking you out of your way,
”
she remarked casually.

“
Not at all! St. Jude
’
s is on my way.
”
Sir Richard leaned forward to see the clock on the dashboard.
“
We should be there by half past ten. All right for you?
”
he queried.

“
Yes, thanks.
”
Mary lapsed into silence. For a few minutes she stared out of the window at the flying landscape, then, suddenly alive to her companion
’
s scrutiny, she swung quickly round to face him. She surprised a smile on his lips, and the eyes that met hers held an expression of veiled amusement.

“
Pretty country here, isn
’
t it?
”
Mary ventured with an obvious attempt at polite conversation.

“
Delightful. I
’
ve done this journey many times, and know this part well.
”
Sir Richard paused.
“
I
’
m not very interested in the country at present. I
’
m far more interested in my companion,
”
he added.

Mary bit her lip to prevent an angry retort. This was really too much! She
’
d always disliked this man, although no doubt it was unjust to dislike a person for the sheer satisfaction of being different from everyone else. At that moment, however, she. certainly felt that her dislike was more than fully justified.

“
I assure you there is nothing whatever interesting about me, and you
’
d derive much more pleasure if you devoted your attention to the landscape,
”
she rejoined coldly.