Ring for the Nurse (26 page)

“
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.
”

For a time they spoke of desultory matters; now Felicity
’
s news was exhausted she had to hear all the latest Hospital gossip. Bill Newlyn
’
s new attachment naturally came again into the discussion and Felicity found herself recalling those many evenings when the four of them had sat together, their heads close as they had pored over the tit-bits of Hospital scandal. It was all part of Hospital life, part of the life she had grown used to and loved. With a pang she realized she would soon be leaving all this behind, leaving it for an unknown future in an unknown country, and once again she was obsessed with a frightening sense of misgiving.

CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN

Exacting as Felicity
had always found her work she had never found it tedious, yet since her return from Weir Court day seemed to have succeeded day in dreary monotony. She
’
d barely been back ten days and yet it seemed months since she had inhaled the sweet smell of the countryside and feasted her eyes on the undulating vista of hill and dale. As with meticulous care she adjusted the extension tackle attached to a patient
’
s bed, her thoughts were miles away. Not only was she uncomfortably aware of her own sudden disinterest in her work, but although she had as yet not even found the courage to admit it to herself, the reason had become all too apparent. There was only Mr. MacFarlayne visiting the ward. In place of Guy Brenton
’
s exacting but precise instructions she was obliged to accept the deputy surgeon
’
s easy-going and almost benign attitude. When Mr. MacFarlayne had first taken over it hadn
’
t really been so hard, since during those weeks she had been giving her all to the care of her patient. She had exerted herself to the exclusion of all else in promoting Guy Brenton
’
s recovery. Now there was nothing to distract her, nothing but the monotony of ward routine and the periodic visits of a surgeon whose persistent smile and almost apologetic manner now goaded her to desperation.

“
Shall I do Mr. Brown
’
s back now?
”
the probationer who had been assisting Felicity asked with some hesitation.

“
Yes, I think that
’
s all we can do here.
”
Felicity gave a final pull at the adjustment and turned away.
“
I suppose you can manage?
”

“
Well
...
I
think so.
”

The young girl
’
s expression was more eloquent than her words, and never able to resist an appeal from any of her juniors, Felicity accompanied her to Mr. Brown
’
s bed.
“
No —like this,
”
she instructed her patiently.
“
No—turn him this way—take his weight on your shoulder, you
’
ll find it far easier.
”

“
Nurse Dene
—”

At Sister Robinson
’
s summons Felicity placed the bottle of spirits on the bedside locker and turned obediently.
“
Yes, Sister, did you want me?
”

“
Just a moment
—”
Sister Robinson broke off to smile
kindly at the probationer.
“
You must try and manage alone, if you don
’
t try you
’
ll never learn
...
massage more evenly
...
there
...
that
’
s better!
”
She turned back to Felicity and there was a note
o
f ill-concealed anxiety in her voice.
“
I
’
ve just heard that Mr. Brenton is here—it seems that he intends doing a round. Most thoughtless without warning us—how about straightening things up a bit, we
’
d better have everything in order.
”

Guy Brenton to visit his ward! Sister
’
s words must have carried as far as the probationer bent assiduously to her task of rubbing Mr. Brown
’
s back, perhaps to Mr. Brown himself and maybe the adjacent beds and to Nurse Jones who had at that moment passed them with a trolley of dressings, yet, to Felicity it was as if the mo
m
entary hush which followed the announcement completely filled the long ward. That real or imaginary silence was followed by excited chatter, and those patients familiar with the name through their long sojourn in hospital were busily explaining to the more ignorant. As for Felicity, she felt sure she had been gaping in wide-eyed astonishment, why, she couldn
’
t imagine since surely this was the moment she had been awaiting since her return.

“
Yes—yes,
”
Sister was replying to a patient
’
s eager questioning,
“
It looks as though we
’
ll soon be getting our own
surgeon back. Some of you boys know him. Of course we
’
ll all be very pleased,
”
she added with a forced smile.

Felicity couldn
’
t help feeling that Sister
’
s obvious despondency belied her words and when she followed her into her office and the door
close
d behind them,
m
aking further conversation inaudible to the staff and patients, her opening remarks brought a smile to Felicity
’
s lips.

“
Fancy just turning up—without a word of warning! How are we going to cope—a nurse short this morning too!
”
Sister Robinson
’
s voice was almost a wail and in her agitation she pushed back her cap allowing a few wisps of hair to escape from the confining band.
“
You know what he
’
s like, so different from dear Mr. MacFarlayne, he
’
ll expect every report and every X-ray ready to hand—every detail of his old cases and there must be still quite a dozen that were originally his—oh dear, I can
’
t even recall which ones they are!
”
She fumbled distractedly through the index file on her desk.
“
Let me see—Morati, he was here, wasn
’
t he? Number seven was operated by him, too—oh dear, I do wish I knew which cases he
’
ll want to examine,
”
she ended despairingly.

“
Probably it
’
s just a formal visit, p
erh
aps Mr. Brenton doesn
’
t intend to do a proper ward round at all,
”
Felicity suggested, but underlying her air of complete composure she was certain that she felt just as agitated as Sister Robinson, perhaps not quite in the same way, but with a pervading sense of excitement and pleasure. Since leaving Weir Court she had not seem him again. Tony, staying in his flat, had been able to tell her of his progress and although she knew he had paid periodical visits to hospital for treatment and for lectures, they had not met. Sh
e
had also heard of Guy
’
s improvement from Alaine who had chatted unreservedly on a shopping expedition they had taken together; Alaine had spoken of his persistent and untiring efforts to regain the full use of his hand. Now she was really to see him, she would be able to judge for herself, would perhaps feel that she had played no small part in his recovery, and realized how much joy that knowledge would afford her. Felicity gave a guilty start as she awoke to the fact that Sister Robinson was again addressing her.

“...
I feel he may be annoyed about Morati, but after all Mr. MacFarlayne did say he could get about.
”
Unaware that
Felicity
had missed quite a few of her observations, she continued.
“
We must get the ward straightened up—get a couple of the pros, on to it—and oh, Nurse Dene, what about renewing Brown
’
s dressing? I was going to leave it until later, Mr. MacFarlayne never
minds when we are busy, you know how understanding he is.
”
Her forehead creased into a frown of perplexity.
“
I don
’
t see how we
’
ll get through, I wonder what time he
’
ll come. I
’
ve just remembered about getting the Simpson boy up, you know how Mr. Brenton insisted he should go down for his massage in the mornings, he hasn
’
t had it yet and I know Mr. Brenton is bound to ask!
”

“
Suppose I get along and see to these things,
”
Felicity suggested.,
“
There seems to be quite a lot to do and the
sooner I get started
—”

“
Yes, yes,
_:
my dear,
”
Sister interrupted.
“
Do get along. I mustn
’
t keep you talking with so much to do. Oh, dear, it is so inconsiderate
...”

Sister
’
s words were still following Felicity as she left the office. She was, unlike her senior, quite free from any sense of panic. In any case it wasn
’
t in her nature to get flustered over her work and if she felt any undue emotion at all it was only one of pleasure at Guy
’
s imminent visit.

Although
Felicity
set quietly about her work she could not but be aware of Sister Robinson
’
s disturbing presence. She seemed to be hovering first here then there, and even imbuing the patients with her own show of anxiety.
“
Might be royalty co
m
in
’
”
she heard one man mutter impatiently, and Morati, now promoted to a
wheel chair, gave his opinion of the whole affair in his most flowery language.

“
There, there, son, you mustn
’
t use such wicked words,
”
she heard Sister chiding him.
“
You would still be on your back if it hadn
’
t been for Mr. Brenton, such ingratitude.
”

“
Can
’
t be ho need for all this tidying,
”
she heard a youngster grumble as Sister ruthlessly swept away a pile of comics which littered his bed and deftly smoothing his counterpane, tucked them away at the back of his locker out of reach.

With a last glance round the now immaculately tidy ward Felicity picked up a stack of unwanted linen and returned it to the cupboard. A small group of students crowding just within the entrance to the ward proclaimed Guy Brenton
’
s
arrival and Sister beckoned Felicity over to where she stood in conversation
with the surgeon.
“
Ah, Nurse Dene, there you are. I was just telling Mr. Brenton what a great pleasure it is to us to see him back and what a lovely surprise it was when we heard he was coming!
”

Felicity repressed the smile which began to curl the corners of her lips. The old hypocrite! Straightening her features she bade Guy Brenton a formal
“
Good morning
”
, her face, now quite devoid of expression, gave no indication of her quickened heart beats and the joy which his presence back on John Mason Ward afforded her. He looked so well too. Gone was the
unsightly
sling a
n
d with his hand thrust in the jacket of his white linen coat it was almost difficult to recall him any other way; his illness, his helpless dependence, all that seemed like an ugly dream and no part of this tall, broad-shouldered man, so strikingly self-assured and virile.

“
Well, I must say that our patient, although he was rather a fractious lad, does us credit.
”
Sister smiled archly, then perhaps aware that her particular brand of humour was not to Guy Brenton
’
s taste, began hurriedly and with some confusion to discuss the cases he had no doubt come to see.
“
There is Briggs of course—and Morati, yes, alas, we still have him with us, still as difficult as ever, but the lad is showing progress now and we
’
ve actually had him on his feet
...”
She babbled on but Guy Brenton, who was now studying a list which his houseman had handed him, was paying but scant, if any attention to her discourse.

“
Grand to have him back,
”
Philip managed to whisper to Felicity.
“
We
’
ll get something done now
.”

Felicity urged him to silence with a warning glance; she was just in time as Guy Brenton, returning the slip of paper to Philip, advanced to the first bed.
“
Thank you, Sister, I want to see the new admissions as well as my old cases. Mr. MacFarlayne has given us much of his valuable time during the past weeks, now I propose to take on as much of the work as I can to relieve him; in future I
’
ll follow up all cases, he will only carry on with the theatre work.
”
He paused, then added,
“
I expect it will mean a long round this morning, don
’
t let me detain you, Sister, Nurse Dene can accompany us.
”

Sister Robinson seemed only too glad of the suggestion and with an encouraging smile at Felicity hurried along the ward, no doubt glad of these extra few moments to see that everything was in order.

Even as the visit from bed to bed progressed, Felicity felt sure that it would take more than their hurried rush round to get John Mason Ward back to the standard of efficiency which it had always boasted when Guy Brenton had been in charge. Things had grown slacker and slacker of recent weeks and Sister Robinson, prone as she had always been to take the line of least resistance, had needed just that spur which Guy Brenton
’
s exacting demands had made upon her and Her underlying awe of him to keep her up to the mark. Mr.
MacFarlayne
’
s easy-going ways had proved fatal to one of her indulgent and kindly attitude. Authority had been gradually undermined and she had allowed herself to fall all too readily into a benign and satisfied state of apathy.

The first part of the round hadn
’
t been too bad. Nurse Jones ever at her elbow, had been ready to take a quick hint from Felicity. A missing report was quickly found before Guy Brenton had even had time to notice its absence, and the physiotherapist wheeling an ultra-violet lamp into position had been hastily turned from the ward with Nurse Jones
’
whispered reminder that Mr. Brenton had never allowed treatments to be given during the hour set aside for his visit.

Felicity had begun to pat herself on the back that all was going well, when
the first hitch arose.
“
Is this the case MacFarlayne operated on on Friday—fractured thigh, isn
’
t it? Peterson pin case?
”
He questioned his houseman. As Philip replied in the affirmative, Guy Brenton turned to Felicity.
“
Has this temperature rise been reported
?
Has there been an X-ray of chest?
”

“
I think Sister intended to report it to Mr. Elver or Mr.
MacFarlayne this morning
—”
Felicity began But was
quickly interrupted.

“
You
think
!”
he echoed with irritation.
“
I don
’
t want to know what you think, but what has been done.
”

“
Nothing has been done,
”
Felicity informed him and, refusing to be intimidated by his manner, went on,
“
I imagine that your unexpected arrival caused the matter to be overlooked, it might have been better if we had had longer warning.
”
There was no trace of insolence in her tone,
but out of loyalty to Sister Robinson she felt constrained to protest.

“
There appears to be a slackness about everything, a
condition I refuse to tolerate
—”

“
Yes,
”
Felicity agreed boldly interrupting his words.
“
It
’
s
been a long time
—”
She broke off and now there was
almost a note of appeal in her voice, in direct contrast to her previous attitude.
“
It will be all right—very soon—now you are back.
”

Ambiguous words, but they left no doubt as to their meaning and, as Felicity had intended, left Guy Brenton little to say. For a moment he was silent, apparently at a loss, then briskly turned to Philip.
“
See to it, at once, let me have the X-ray report as soon as it comes through.
”
There were, unfortunately, other minor upsets before the round had finished and with a sigh of relief, Felicity followed Guy Brenton from the ward towards Sister
’
s office. Beyond the swing doors the students dispersed, and Philip excusing
h
imself, hurried off to arrange for the portable X-ray.

“
How about coffee?
”
Felicity suggested as she opened the door of Sister
’
s office and stood back for him to
enter. At his nod of approval she gave Nurse Jones the necessary instructions, then realized with some dismay that Sister Robinson had disappeared. No doubt dreading a
tete-a-tete,
Sister had taken advantage of the prolonged round to escape to early lunch which gave Felicity no option but to remain in attendance until Guy Brenton had drunk his coffee and left the ward.

With a shrug of resignation, Felicity accepted the inevitable and helping him to exchange his white jacket for his own coat drew forward a chair.
“
It
’
s nice to see you back,
”
she began formally.
“
How are you feeling now?
”