Honorary Surgeon (28 page)

“
No, it was the way you said it!
”
There was a moment
’
s silence before his voice came to her again, this time in serious tones.
“
Please don
’
t be too pressing. I was only trying to be polite. I don
’
t really mind a bit if I miss her.
”

“
All right, I understand
...
Well, bye-bye. I
’
ll see you later.
”
Mary replaced the receiver. So he
’
d thought that pretence of indifference would cover his true feelings. Mary smiled, but there was no laughter in her eyes. Poor Richard. Poor darling. Her heart ached for him. She herself knew too well the pain of love unfulfilled.

“
Well, dear, what did he say?
”
Lady Aylmer questioned as Mary re-seated herself at the luncheon table.

“
He
’
s coming, but he may be rather late, probably about tea-time.
”
Mary turned to Veronica.
“
He hopes you
’
ll be able to stay until his return.
”
She laughed as naturally as she was able.
“
He says he
’
ll feel so rude if he misses you both.
”
Mary could not resist a surreptitious glance at Guy. How would he be taking it? Would he show any signs of jealousy? She felt thankful that Guy
’
s eyes, returning her gaze, held no sign of perturbation.

“
Of course we
’
ll wait, won
’
t we, Guy?
”
Veronica spoke to her husband, and, without awaiting a reply, continued speaking, addressing her remarks to the company in general.
“
Richard seems to get busied than ever.
”
She laughed
.
“
I suppose that
’
s a sign of success. I do think it
’
s a shame that he can
’
t even depend on a proper weekend. He
’
s been down awfully, little this summer; why, it
’
s nearly Christmas, and we
’
ve hardly seen anything of him.
”
She turned to her hostess.
“
I suppose he
’
ll get some sort of time off at Christmas, then perhaps we shall see him. We
’
re sailing in January.
”
She sighed.
“
How quickly the time has passed! I can
’
t believe our leave is really over.
”
Mary listened to her friend
’
s speech in silence. How she was prattling on, no doubt in an effort to cover her true feelings; perhaps to draw Guy
’
s attention away from her opening remark.

Dessert was placed on the table, and Mary helped herself to a few grapes, eating in silence while she listened, in desultory manner, to the hum of conversation around her. She was glad Guy had raised no difficulties about prolonging their visit. After Richard
’
s efforts to get them there, it really would have been a shame if he had missed Veronica after all.

“
Well, if you
’
ve finished, I suggest we take coffee in the lounge.
”
Lady Alymer rose to her feet and, taking her stick which Mary handed her, made her way towards the door, followed by the others.

When the coffee-cups had been cleared away, Veronica suggested a game of piquet with Lady Alymer,
“
just for old times
’
sake,
”
she laughed, as she crossed to the bureau to collect the cards.

Mary settled herself near the fire with some embroidery she was doing, and Guy, after watching the game for a short time, came across to join her. For some moments
he did not speak, then abruptly he suggested that he and Mary should play a game of billiards.

“
Oh, but, Guy, I haven
’
t played since I was at Windyridge! I shall scarcely be able to hit a ball; you
’
ll be bored to tears,
”
Mary protested.

“
Not so bored as I am here,
”
he whispered coaxingly. Then more loudly he added:
“
Come on, Mary, you
’
ll soon get into your stride again, and it
’
s good for the table to be used.
”

“
Mr. Perivale is quite right,
”
Lady Alymer remarked.
“
The cloth does something peculiar, I believe, if it
’
s not used.
”
She looked across at Guy.
“
I
’
m right, aren
’
t I? At least, I think that
’
s what Richard is always saying,
”
she concluded, a shade doubtfully.

“
Perfectly right, Lady Alymer,
”
Guy agreed.
“
So you won
’
t mind if Mary and I excuse
o
urselves for a while, will you?
”
He held open the door for Mary as he spoke.

In the billiard-room, Mary helped Guy to remove the holland cloth from the green baize table, and waited for him to prepare the cues and set the balls, but instead he seated himself on the leather settee and beckoned her to join him.
“
I don
’
t want to play billiards, Mary; that was only an excuse to get you to myself. Come and sit down and talk to me.
”

Mary frowned at him.
“
Don
’
t be troublesome, Guy. If you don
’
t intend to play, I shall go back to the lounge.
”

“
Mary darling, don
’
t be a spoil-sport; I must talk to you, really I must. Veronica and the old lady are quite, happy together. Anyway, if you don
’
t stay here with me, I shall rout out the whisky, and then the fat
’
ll be in the fire,
”
he threatened.

“
Guy, you wouldn
’
t do that!
”
Mary ejaculated in alarm.

“
I most certainly shall if you don
’
t come and sit down,
”
he persisted.

“
Very well then, I
’
ll stay and talk for a while, as I see you intend to make a nuisance of yourself, but I don
’
t propose to remain long, so if there
’
s anything special you want to discuss, you
’
d better be quick about it.
”
Mary
’
s tone was decisive, but, in acquiescence to his request, she seated herself by his side.

“
There are hundreds of things I
’
d like to discuss with you, but what opportunity do you give me? And the moment I succeed in getting you alone, you treat me like a stranger. Mary, why do you avoid me?
”
Guy demanded insistently.

“
What nonsense, Guy. I don
’
t purposely avoid you,
”
Mary retorted.
“
I haven
’
t had a chance to see anyone. I haven
’
t seen Veronica since the day I arrived.
”

“
Why haven
’
t you? I thought even companions had a day off occasionally,
”
Guy grumbled.

“
Of course I could get off if I wanted to.
”
Mary flushed angrily.
“
You know it
’
s not a question of that, but Windyridge is a long way from here; I have neither car nor chauffeur, and I don
’
t propose to commandeer Lady Al
y
mer
’
s!
”

“
All rights don
’
t get cross about it.
”
Guy placed a placatory hand on her arm.
“
You know we d
i
d swear friendship
...
that wonderful day we spent together,
”
he added reminiscently.
“
I
’
d hoped, when Veronica told me you
’
d accepted a job here, that I
’
d see something of you, that
’
s all.
”

Mary felt her control returning.
“
I see. Well, it couldn
’
t be helped. Although I
’
m not at the hospital any more, I
’
m still in a job, you know.
”
She smiled.
“
I asked Veronica to come and see me here the first day I arrived; she told me she didn
’
t care to come here, that it was difficult for her
’
now,
”
Mary ended lamely.

“
You mean after being engaged to Alymer.
”
Guy laughed shortly.
“
Don
’
t try and spare my feelings; I am quite aware that Lady Alymer thinks Veronica made a bad bargain. I couldn
’
t bear the look-over she gave me the first time we called; that
’
s why I
’
ve been sparing with my visits. I shouldn
’
t have come today, except that I wanted to see you.
”

Mary smiled.
“
Thank you; I suppose I ought to feel very flattered,
”
she suggested teasingly.

“
I don
’
t think there is anything particularly flattering about having me as a friend,
”
Guy protested; then, turning to Mary, he laid his hand over hers.

“
Your
friendship is something to value.
”
He paused, searching for words.
“
I
don
’
t think you realize what
a
help you
’
ve been to me.
”

“
Help?
”
Mary echoed.
“
But I haven
’
t done anything.
”
She made to withdraw her hand from beneath his, but he held it more firmly.

“
You have helped me more than you realize.
”
He hesitated before continuing.
“
You remember
...
you asked me to let Veronica divorce me ... I don
’
t know
...
but I have thought about it.
”

“
You mean that?
”
Mary questioned eagerly.
“
You
’
ll give her her freedom, let her go to the man she wants?
”
It was only as she spoke that she fully realized the import of her words.
“
The man she wants!
”
Richard! That would be the end, the very end of everything. Mary felt as if she had been suddenly plunged in icy water, an
d
yet, as gradually her composure returned, with it came a feeling of relief, almost gratitude, that her misery would be over. For, with Richard married, surely then her suffering, her fruitless longings, would be quenched.

“
I
didn
’
t
say that! I said I
’
d
thought
about it,
”
Guy protested.

“
That means you
’
ll do it,
”
Mary insisted firmly.
“
After all, what
’
s the use of keeping Veronica agai
n
st her will?
N
either of you can ever be happy,
”
Mary urged.