To Please the Doctor (6 page)

Brenda
Malling
had the grace to flush.
“
I didn
’
t think it mattered. Dr. McRey asked me yesterday. It
’
s Mr. Fahr
’
s day here, and he asked me to get him over, I arranged for him to meet Dr. McRey here at three.
”

“
You know perfectly well that I should have been told.
”
Jill paused, then added:
“I
k
n
ow you are trying to make things as difficult for me as you can. You resent my appointment here and you don
’
t try to hide it. Why go on like this? It
’
s rather childish, isn
’
t it?
”

“
I don
’
t know what you mean,
”
Brenda
Malling
retorted sulkily.
“
I
’
ve done all you have asked me; you suggested yourself that I should keep on with the ward round until you were more settled. I didn
’
t want to bother you with details. I
’
ve tried to help, that
’
s all.
”

“
I see.
”
Jill met Brenda
’
s ga
ze
unflinchingly.
“
Well, thanks. From this afternoon, I
’
ll
take over myself. Is there any other information you should give me, any further requests of Dr. McRey
’
s which I should know?
”

“
No, nothing.
”
Brenda turned towards the door and with her hand resting on the handle, spoke again.
“
Do you want me to accompany you on the round?
”

“
Yes, I
’
m sure you
’
ll be a help.
”
Jill bent over her desk to hide the smile which accompanied her words, but it quickly died from her lips as she heard the door
close
. There really wasn
’
t anything to smile about, she was too uncomfortably aware that in Brenda
Malling
she had a real enemy.

That thought was borne upon her again even more forcibly when, accompanied by her Staff Nurse, she attended Duncan McRey round the ward. Brenda
Malling
lost no opportunity, however small, of putting the new Sister at a disadvantage. The trolley which she had set out was certainly complete, but set in such a fashion that Jill had to fumble for every instrument, even the long-handled forceps were faulty and failed to grip, with the result that every syringe or needle plonked back three or four times into the disinfecting bowl before she could secure them.

Although Dr. McRey had raised his eyebrows in mild surprise, he had accepted her first appearance on his round without comment. Except to ask for his requirements, he had not directly addressed her, but Jill was certainly learning the truth of Harriet
’
s assertion. He was marvellous with all the children; he appeared to have their complete trust and confidence, and knowing, as Jill did, the incredible mixture of types which comprised a children
’
s ward, that in itself was an achievement.

Jill was herself only just gaining the confidence of her
small
charges, ranging as they did from infancy to six or seven years. Children are naturally suspicious, and yet Jill had wondered if some of the early antipathy towards her hadn
’
t been deliberately fostered by her Staff Nurse. She had thrust back the unworthy thought as she had set herself out to overcome the difficulty; it hadn
’
t taken her long, and she had only wished that adults could be so readily won over.

Duncan McRey rumpled a small boy
’
s tousled head, then straightened up his tall figure.
“
A couple of hours up for young Jim tomorrow, Sister.
”
He addressed Jill, but his blue eyes were still smiling down at the excited face on the pillow.
“
You are doing fine, young man. We
’
ll have you back to school before long.
”

What charm the man had if he cared to exert it. Jill stared almost unbelievingly at Duncan McRey
’
s smiling eyes and the tender curve of the lips. In addition to the confidence with which he inspired his small patients, Duncan McRey also made his ward round the most interesting and informative that Jill had known.

“
I see we have Sister with us today.
”
Harriet had quietly joined the group at the bedside.
“
Sorry I
’
m so late, Doctor, I was kept in O.P.
’
s.
”
She whispered a greeting to Jill, then concentrated upon the case which Dr. McRey began to discuss.

During the next few minutes it became obvious to Jill that Dr. McRey not only admired Harriet as a person, but, although she was his junior, he obviously respected her judgment, and they appeared to work together with complete understanding.

“Ain’t new Sister pretty, Doctor?
Like what you see on
films.” The small boy
Duncan McRey was examining jerked his thumb in Jill
’
s direction.
“
A real smasher I calls er.
”

“
Can
’
t say I
’
d noticed.
”
Duncan McRey laughed down at Jim, then, with an air of serious consideration, added,
“
But there I daresay your eyes are sharper than mine. I
’
ll have a good look some time and let you know.
”
With a final smoothing of the rumpled hair, he walked towards the next bed.

Jill was devoutly glad of the distraction of preparing the next child for examination. Children were dreadfully outspoken She was used to that, but this was the first time she had ever really minded. She knew her cheeks had flushed, and had been uncomfortably aware of Brenda
’
s wry smile; but, worst of all, she had sensed Duncan McRey
’
s amusement.
“
Nurse
Malling
tells me that you asked for Mr. Fahr to see Mary Miles.
”
She spoke with a calm she was still far from feeling.

“
Yes, that
’
s right
...
this is Mary, isn
’
t it?
”
He smiled down at the child on the bed.
“
I
’
d better wait for Fahr. What time will he be over?
”

“
Three o clock, it
’
s that now.
”
Jill glanced down at the emaciated body of the child. The ribs showed all too clearly through the stretched skin, her face against the pillow was almost transparent in its pallor, and the soft fair curls clung
damply to her head. A feeling of pity and concern filled Jill
’
s heart. Custom had, in part, lessened that emotion, but there was something in the ethereal beauty of Mary Miles as she lay motionless against her pillow, which tugged at Jill
’
s heart. For a fleeting second she caught Duncan McRey
’
s glance; she suspected that his eyes reflected her own emotion, but she must have been mistaken, she told herself. Surely there could be no room for sentiment in his life, no room for anything but his own ruthless needs.

Mr. Fahr
’
s arrival and the consultation which followed wiped all further speculations from Jill
’
s mind. Richard Fahr was the antithesis of Dr. McRey; he seemed to be endowed with all the charm and social graces which the physic
i
an lacked, and Jill couldn
’
t resist a momentary wish that Harriet had found her a post on the Surgical rather than the Medical side of St. Joseph
’
s.

Although Jill had always believed children to be instinctive judges of character, Mr. Fahr certainly made no favourable impression on Mary Miles. She screamed lustily before he could even touch her, and clung desperately to Duncan McRey for protection—there must have been some source of strength she sensed beneath his unpolished manner. Jill suppressed a smile; it was beyond her understanding. She couldn
’
t believe that even as a child she could have turned to Duncan McRey for consolation.

Jill listened with intelligent interest while the two men and Harriet discussed the case; at
times the surgeon addressed her, bringing her into the discussion.
“T
hen it
’
s decided, McRey, you
’
ll carry on treatment. I
a
dmit I
’
m reluctant to resort to surgery at the moment
.
You
’
ve had such excellent results before, I feel it
’
s well worth waiting for a bit.
”
He turned again to Jill.
“
You are from Baldwin
’
s, aren
’
t you?—a splendid hospital, must have given you plenty of experience. Well, I hope you are going to like it here.
”
He gave her an encouraging smile.
“
I am confident you will find it interesting working with Dr. McRey
.”

Jill smiled her thanks. She
’
d certainly find it interesting, she agreed. Then she gave her full attention to the discussion regarding treatment. Then, as the surgeon disappeared through the swing doors at the end of, the long ward, Duncan McRey turned to her.
“
You heard Mr. Fahr
’
s opinion; for the time being we continue as before.
”
He leaned over Mary
’
s bed, exploring the thin chest with gentle fingers, then, addressing Harriet, he added,
“
We
’
ll have to get rid of this fluid.
”

Jill quickly prepared a syringe and waited as Duncan McRey soothed the frightened child. Mary scarcely appeared to feel the prick. She turned her head, but only to give the doctor a trusting smile.
“
All right?
”
Again that tender smile transformed his whole expression, then, still chatting to distract Mary
’
s attention, he proceeded swiftly with the operation.

Jill was holding out the dish for the syringe when it happened—she felt her elbow deliberately jerked, the syringe flew from her hand and clattered to the floor. In numbed astonishment she saw the splintered glass at her feet and the trickle of fluid, a dark stain on the polished wood
...
She heard Duncan McRey
’
s smothered exclamation of annoyance and Nurse
Malling
’
s twitter of regret
...
Still dazed, she looked up to meet his scathing glance, his undisguised expression of annoyance. Even Harriet showed ill-concealed surprise, and that was the last straw. Jill could barely contain her own rising anger.

“
Oh, dear, what an awful mess! I
’
ll get Nurse Fenn to clear it up.
”
Brenda
Malling
spoke with such an air of cool detachment that it only served to fan the flame of Jill
’
s smouldering anger.

“
You
’
ll do nothing of the kind, clear it up yourself!
”
Jill would have recalled her words the moment they were spoken, but it was too late, the expression of scorn and anger in Brenda
Malling
’
s glance sent an icy chill to her heart.

“
That
’
s the last case, isn
’
t it?
”
Harriet
’
s question broke in on Jill
’
s chaotic thoughts and, glancing up to reply, she was aware of the unspoken sympathy in her friend
’
s
glan
ce.

“
Yes, that is all.
”
Jill spoke with all the calm she could muster, then slowly followed Dr. McRey and Harriet towards the swing doors. She watched them as they left the ward and entered her office and found herself marvelling at the ease with which Harriet conducted the conversation. Certainly Harriet had managed to break down the barrier of Duncan McRey
’
s reserve. Jill couldn
’
t resist a pang of envy; not that she really cared, she assured herself, but there was no denying the fact that not only would it make her job far easier, but it would be something in the nature of an achievement.

“
I
’
d like to have stayed,
”
Harriet was saying as Jill followed them into the office,
“
but I
’
ve got to get back and give Dr. Traven a hand. He
’
ll never get through singlehanded.
”
She turned towards the door and, as Jill stood back to let her pass, she added quietly:
“
Don
’
t worry, it was just an accident
...
Try not
to antagonize Nurse
Malling
too much, it
isn
’
t a wise policy you know.
”

Jill was scarcely aware of Harriet
’
s words. There was only one thing uppermost in her mind, the knowledge that Harriet was leaving—leaving her alone to face Duncan McRey in the confined space of her tiny office. There was nothing she could do but acknowledge Harriet
’
s words with a wan smile. Then, aware that the door had closed behind her friend, she had no option but to turn and face her companion.

“
Well, are my other cases ready?
”
He spoke with a hint of impatience, which became even more marked as Jill remained silent, blankly returning his gaze.
“
My cases for the clinic, are they ready?
”

“
I
’
ll see. ... I mean I didn
’
t know that you saw outpatients here,
”
Jill stammered uneasily, as she turned towards the door.

“
I always have a clinic after my round on Wednesdays—surely you knew that?
”
There was no mistaking his rising anger.
“
I
’
m too busy to be kept hanging about. Better call Nurse
Malling
, she
’
ll know about it.
”

Jill felt her cheeks flush with anger at the implication. How true it was. Brenda
Malling
had everything at her finger-tips. Did he really expect her so far to
humiliate herself as to recall Brenda
Malling
from the task she had set her, the task which Jill alone knew she had so well merited. Choking back her anger, she spoke.
“
I
’
m sorry everything isn
’
t ready for you—it
’
s difficult at first, there is so much to learn...
”

“
I
’
ve no time to teach,
”
Duncan McRey broke in shortly.
“
Call Nurse
Malling
and let me get on with my work
.”

With unsteady fingers Jill turned the handle of the door and was at least relieved to find that Brenda, her undignified job completed, was advancing down the corridor from the ward.
“
Nurse
Malling
, Dr. McRey tells me he has a clinic today—why didn
’
t you tell me about it?
”
Jill asked quietly.