yRing for the Nurse(37)

       

"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."