"We stopped for a meal on the way up-do you realize it's past eight? Still, I'll come along with you, I can always manage a coffee." Felicity was already slipping on her coat. "Come on, let's go-this place depresses me. By the way, thanks awfully for the flowers."
Seated at a table in the nearby restaurant, Diana began to ply her friend with questions. It was lucky that Felicity had already eaten, since it was doubtful if, with all she had to recount, she would have had much opportunity to do more than snatch at the cup of coffee she had ordered. Diana, relishing her delayed supper; was an eager listener, obviously enjoying Felicity's detailed description of Weir Court and all the happenings of that brief but exciting stay.
"How lucky your brother turned up while you were there."
Diana's comment led to a further description of Tony's arrival, of her inability to meet him and of Alaine's offer to deputize, and by the time Diana had finished her meal and was sharing Felicity's pot of coffee, she had heard very nearly all Felicity had to tell.
"So Milady Jason didn't act all up-stage with you and your brother?" Diana queried.
"Not a bit-I was annoyed when she turned up in the car the day we left here, but she was really very nice and I must say I'm glad she stayed on! She brightened things up considerably. Tony is so tireless, I suppose living abroad has made him accustomed to gaiety, and an English country house isn't exactly thrilling. I shouldn't have known how to entertain him, I seem to have become an awful sober-sides, and Mr. Brenton isn't what you would call hilarious! Alaine was just wonderful and I must say that, if she wants to, she can be a most diverting companion."
"I'm glad to hear it." Diana was obviously unconvinced but unwilling to waste time in argument when there was so much she still wanted to know. "So you are really leaving hospital? I can't bear the idea, I've been just miserable these last few days without you, it's been deadly. Tell me, when do you and your brother expect to sail?"
"I leave in less than a month and we sail in six weeks."
"Any happier about it?"
"Not really," Felicity admitted. It was a relief to be able to speak freely of the doubts which assailed her. "I'm so afraid I won't fit in, and I might disappoint Tony; these last few days haven't shown him the real me. I've told you it was Alaine who kept things going; I couldn't, and wouldn't want to live at that pace, I prefer a quieter sort of life. He seems to entertain so much out there, it must be a life of endless parties. Oh, Diana, I'm so scared of it all! Scared of leaving England too, I'm all het up inside yet there isn't a thing I can do about it."
"I wouldn't worry." Diana spoke reassuringly. "Of course you'll have to go, it's only fair to your brother that you should give it a trial, then, if you don't like it, I can't see that there is anything on earth to stop you coming back."
"I suppose not," Felicity agreed, a trifle consoled at Diana's sound argument. "Perhaps I'm unduly anxious, maybe it will be all right once I get there," she concluded, but her tone still lacked conviction.
"You haven't told me about Brenton and Miss Jason yet," Diana reminded her. "You told me in your letter he'd found out about the ring, how did he really take it, do you think it's going to be all right?"
"They marry in just over three weeks. I suppose everything is settled amicably now, Alaine is definitely giving up her career-in fact it's giving her up since I understand that Fettle's Studios are closing down-I believe she'll settle to married life once she has given up her ambitions." She paused for a moment while her brow creased into a worried frown. "I do hope they'll be happy, they are both such nice people-" She broke off, unwilling to put into words her own lingering doubts and how much Guy s happiness had come to mean to her.
"He ought to have married the type who could stand up to him, some girl he could really respect, but perhaps being as alluring as she is, Alaine Jason will do just as well. She paused to light a cigarette, then went on, "What made you come back to Hospital, you aren't on duty till morning. I thought you'd spend the .evening with your brother."
"I didn't feel I should do that, that's why we had supper on the road. You see, Alaine had to get home in good time as she's got a dance on this evening and as Tony was going to Guy's flat I couldn't very well go along with him."
"Guy indeed! Since when?" Diana asked with raised eyebrows.
A flush of colour mounted Felicity's cheeks. "Oh, I don't know, it just slipped out," she confessed awkwardly. "You see, we four have been so much together the last three days, Tony is so friendly and casual with everyone, he and Alaine dropped right away into Christian names, and I suppose Mr. Brenton decided he'd better follow suit. I felt uncomfortable about it, and I imagine he did too; an occasional 'Felicity' slipped out, but most of the time we just avoided addressing one another by name at all!"
"What a joke!" Diana laughed. "I'll split my sides if I hear you addressing him as 'Guy' on the wards!"
"Don't be idiotic!" There was a note of embarrassment in Felicity's laugh and anxious to terminate the conversation she began to speak of other things. "Do tell me how are Bill and Philip, I'm longing to see them. What about fixing a foursome one evening?"
"I don't suppose you'll have many evenings to spare now your brother's here," Diana reminded her. "In any case Bill won't be along. Believe me or not the wretched man has thrown me over for that red-headed Jones on your ward."
"I don't believe it!" Felicity exclaimed. "I know you weren't ever serious but he always seemed so keen."
"Never trust a man!" Diana sighed but there was a twinkle in her eyes which gave the lie to her words. "I suppose I played him up once too often, anyways I've lost him all right and I can't say I'm really heartbroken."
"You are an incorrigible flirt," Felicity said with mock severity, then went on, "What about Philip, don't tell me he has walked out on us too."
"Not exactly." Diana giggled. "For two or three days after you left he slunk around Hospital like a bear with a sore head then he turned to yours truly for comfort. He has been hanging round me the last few days, took me to a show on Saturday night and a movie on Sunday. I expect, as you were away, I was the next best thing, but I, must admit I've enjoyed it, it's nice to be taken out in style sometimes. You always managed to keep him at arm's length but you know if you'd only relax a bit he really can be quite fun."
"I'm sure he can!" Felicity laughed until her cheeks dimpled. "You haven't taken long to console yourself," she chaffed good-naturedly.
"You don't mind do you? I mean about Philip-of course now you are back-"
Felicity's unchecked merriment interrupted her friend's excuses. "Don't be silly! Of course I don't, why should I? I like Philip, I always have and I always shall but that doesn't mean I mind him having other friends. On the contrary, I prefer it, I can then-as you so neatly put it-keep him at arm's length without one qualm of conscience."
"Good heavens-speak of the devil-there he is!" Diana exclaimed as Philip, perceiving them as he entered the restaurant, made straight for their table.
After greeting both girls he drew up a chair to the table. "Well, Felicity, what's the news?"
"She can't go over everything again, I've been bombarding her with questions all the evening. To put things in a nutshell she has had a wonderful time, and is fed to the teeth at the idea of returning to the dreary routine of St. Edwin's," Diana summed up for Philip's benefit.
"I hear that Brenton is coming back to town?" he asked, turning to Felicity.
"He told MacFarlayne when he came down to remove the plaster on Sunday that he wanted to get back as quickly as possible. He is remarkably well in himself, he won't be able to use his hand much for a while, but MacFarlayne was very optimistic about; that too. Anyway, Brenton seemed fed up with doing nothing so he's commencing his lectures again on Monday. He'll probably do a ward round too, the only tiding he really can't do is operate. The wound on his shoulder hasn't healed properly yet, it will need attention for about another ten days I should say, but he can have it done at hospital and being on the spot he'll be able to have some diathermy and massage for his arm."