To Please the Doctor Read Online Free Page B

breakfast till eight, and Dr. Laine says I was to tell you she ’ ll be back to have it with you. ”
    “ She isn ’ t home then? ” Relieved that she hadn ’ t overslept, Jill picked up the cup of tea and began to drink it appreciatively.
    “ No, Miss, but she just phoned through. ” Mrs. Sidons began to lay fresh wood and paper in the grate and applied a match.
    “ Chilly it is this morning, you ’ ll be glad of a bit of fire. ”
    “ Mrs. Sidons—tell me, Dr. McRey, is he still here? He had to stay last night, you know. ” Jill asked the question with some diffidence and waited anxiously for a reply.
    “ Oh, him! ” Mrs. Sidons gave a significant sniff. It was obvious that she harboured no great love for Duncan McRey. “ I saw him when I come down this morning, sleeping like a baby he was in the armchair by the fire. Said now the mist ‘ ad cleared he ’ d get off home for his breakfast, and I never tried to stop him. I didn ’ t even notice him when I come in last night. What a night, too! I ’ m glad I never went further than me sister ’ s place down the road. ”
    “ I see. ” Jill repressed a smile as she pictured Duncan McRey ’ s tall figure hunched all night in an inadequate armchair. She only hoped Harriet wouldn ’ t mind, wouldn ’ t think she had been deliberately inhospitable; the thought was sobering, but, she consoled herself, surely Harriet would understand.
    “ There, Miss, burning up nicely. ” Mrs. Sidons heaved her bulky figure upright and glanced with an air of righteous pride at the crackling wood. “ Warm the room in no time. Now I ’ ll go and see about the breakfast. ”
    As Jill dressed she was aware of a deepening sense of apprehension. Within an hour or two she ’ d be presenting herself at hospital. She was glad that she ’ d have Harriet ’ s support but all the same, facing a new job, new work, strange faces, was undoubtedly an ordeal. All the faces wouldn ’ t be strange, she recalled with some misgivings; it might be better if they were. What on earth would Duncan McRey have to say when she was introduced to him as his new Sister! The prospect was distinctly alarming, and she began to question her wisdom in not having immediately revealed her true identity. She folded her night things, then tucked her bedroom slippers into a corner of the case, shut it and snapped the clasp, then with a final look round left the room and descended to the lounge.
    “ Good morning. ” Harriet put down the morning paper as she rose to greet her friend. “ I can ’ t tell you how sorry I am about last night. You did understand, didn ’ t you? I moved heaven and earth to get back, but I couldn ’ t make it. ”
    “ Naturally I understand, ” Jill answered reassuringly. “ It was bad luck, but it couldn ’ t be helped. ”
    Harriet linked her arm through Jill ’ s and led her towards the dining-room. “ Let ’ s have breakfast. I ’ m longing for a coffee; we can talk while we are eating. ” She seated herself at the round polished table and flicked a serviette across her knees. “ Now, Jill, help yourself. I can ’ t be a good hostess at this hour of the morning. ”
    Jill did as she was bidden and began to feel a little more confident under the warming influence of hot, strong coffee. “ What time am I due at St. Joseph ’ s? You ’ ll take me there, won ’ t you? ”
    “ Of course. I told Matron we ’ d be along about eleven. She wondered if you could start your work at two, we are terribly short-handed and things are so muddled. Sister Wilks left last week and the place is all at sixes and sevens. ” Harriet buttered a piece of toast and spread it with marmalade. “ Strange that you and Duncan should have met last night—rather helpful, really. ” The statement was made in such a doubtful tone that it sounded more like a query.
    “ He didn ’ t realize who I was, ” Jill announced, and aware of her companion ’ s surprise, amended: “ I told him