Nurse Saxon's Patient Read Free

people than she was aware of, was a well-known figure in Hyncaster. Welfare State or no Welfare State it was her firm conviction that those who could help others should do so whenever possible. It was due to her money, and a great deal of effort on her part, that the new Chest Clinic had been built, the School for the Blind endowed and a number of other things been done to which she had given her attention. Ian ’ s voice broke in on Julie ’ s thoughts.
    ‘ Mrs. Andy says he ’ s to go to her home to convalesce, as soon as he ’ s fit to be discharged from here. His hands will require attention for some time. I shall have a word with Matron and ask that you may be the nurse detailed to attend him there. ’ His eyes narrowed as he looked down at her. ‘ You ’ ll be safe enough, ’ he commented, ‘ attractive though he is. His fiancée was with him, and appears to be devoted to him. She ’ s out there now, in the rest-room at the end of the corridor. ’
    ‘ I ’ ve met her. ’ Julie was well aware that Ian was warning her that Garth ’ s affections were engaged elsewhere, and she resented the implication behind his words. She knew he must have seen Garth and herself enjoying their talk at the dance at New Year, and she knew he would not have been pleased, but she could not prevent herself from adding: ‘ I was ve r y surprised when I realized who she was. She hardly looks his sort of person ...’ and then she stopped. How should she know what sort of person would really interest and delight Garth Holroyd?
    ‘ That ’ s what Mrs. Andy seems to think, ’ Ian remarked cryptically, ‘ but it always seems to me that any engagement—the rights and the wrongs of it, that is—is the sole concern of the two people concerned. If they love one another, then the opinion of the rest of the world doesn ’ t really matter. Don ’ t you agree? ’
    ‘ That depends ... on the two people. ’ This was treading on dangerous ground. Ian would not listen to her when she had tried to tell him that she did not love him or anyone else, and had turned down his first proposal. He had asked if her hesitation was because he was so much older than Julie, if she had ever considered what would happen to her lifetime of devotion ‘ if when you ’ re both older but it ’ s still not too late for Roger to meet someone he wants to marry ’ . It seemed that he could not believe a girl would not be swept off her feet by the mere fact of his position, his financial security and the status he had built up for himself over the years. There had been many arguments since that first one, and yet he refused to believe the truth, that Julie just could not love him, and she did not feel that now was the ideal place or the time to begin yet another such fruitless discussion.
    For a moment it seemed Ian was not going to be put off so easily, but a glance at his watch made him give an involuntary exclamation.
    ‘ I must go, ’ he announced to Julie ’ s relief. ‘ I ’ m due in the theatre, and there ’ s a busy afternoon ahead. Can I take you out to supper tonight, Julie? They ’ re putting on something special at the Blue Moon. ’
    ‘ I can ’ t tonight. ’ That was the truth. ‘ I ’ ve arranged to give Nurse Bailey a home perm when she comes off duty. I don ’ t want to let her down. ’
    ‘ You couldn ’ t let anybody down, dear. It just isn ’ t in your nature. ’ Ian made the remark and was gone, closing the door gently behind him, but instantly Julie ’ s resentment towards him was gone. That always happened, she reflected ruefully. Ian irritated her by persisting in giving the impression that he thought she was playing ‘ hard to get ’ and really loved him after all, and that it was just a matter of time before she gave in and said she would marry him. Then, just when she felt she could scream aloud in annoyance he made some completely sincere and very sweet remark and she knew that although she could never love