there all their lives. Although she had been a bit scared when the professor had fetched Gustavus and introduced him to the dogs, she had said nothing. After a good deal of spitting and gentle growling the three animals had settled down together.
She had said that she must go back after tea, but somehow he’d convinced her that it would be far better if she stayed for supper. ‘So that Gustavus can get used to George and Max,’ hehad explained smoothly. She hated leaving his house and her bed-sitter was cold and uninviting.
The professor had lighted the gas fire for her, drawn the curtains over the window and turned on the table lamp, before going to the door, smiling at her muddled thanks and wishing her goodnight in a brisk manner.
There was no reason why he should have lingered, she told herself sleepily. Perhaps she would see him at the hospital—not to talk to, just to get a glimpse of him would do, so that she knew that he was still there.
In the morning, when she woke, she told herself that any foolish ideas about him must be squashed. She couldn’t pretend that she wasn’t in love with him, because she was and there was nothing she could do about that, but at least she would be sensible about it.
This was made easy for her since Miss Prescott was in a bad mood. Theodosia had no time at all to think about anything but the endless jobs her superior found for her to do,but in her dinner hour she went along to the women’s surgical ward and asked if she might see the old lady.
She was sitting propped up in bed, looking surprisingly cheerful. True, she was attached to a number of tubes and she looked pale, but she remembered Theodosia at once.
‘I’d have been dead if you hadn’t come along, you and that nice doctor. Patched me up a treat, they have! My daughter’s been to see me, too. Ever so grateful, we both are.’
‘I’m glad I just happened to be there, and it was marvellous luck that Professor Bendinck should drive past …’
‘Professor, is he? A very nice gentleman and ever so friendly. Came to see me this morning.’
Just to know that he had been there that morning made Theodosia feel happy. Perhaps she would see him too …
But there was no sign of him. The week slid slowly by with not so much as a glimpse of him. Friday came at last. She bade MissPrescott a temporary and thankful goodbye and made her way through the hospital. It had been raining all day and it was cold as well. A quiet weekend, she promised herself, making for the entrance.
The professor was standing by the main door and she saw him too late to make for the side door. As she reached him she gave him a cool nod and was brought to a halt by his hand.
‘There you are. I was afraid that I had missed you.’
‘I’ve been here all this week,’ said Theodosia, aware of the hand and filled with delight, yet at the same time peevish.
‘Yes, so have I. I have a request to make. Would you be free on Sunday to take the dogs into the country? George is very biddable, but Max needs a personal attendant.’ He added, most unfairly, ‘And since you took such an interest in him …’
She felt guilty. ‘Oh, dear. I should have thought … It was my fault, wasn’t it? If I hadn’tsaid anything … Ought he to go back to Worthing and find another owner?’
‘Certainly not. It is merely a question of him settling down. He is so pleased to be with George that he gets carried away. They couldn’t be separated.’ He had walked her through the door. ‘I’ll drive you home …’
‘There’s no need.’
Which was a silly remark for it was pouring with rain, as well as dark and cold.
She allowed herself to be stowed in the car and when they got to Mrs Towzer’s house he got out with her. ‘I’ll be here at ten o’clock on Sunday,’ he told her, and didn’t wait for her answer.
‘Really,’ said Theodosia, climbing the stairs. ‘He does take me for granted.’
But she knew that wasn’t true. He merely arranged
She had said that she must go back after tea, but somehow he’d convinced her that it would be far better if she stayed for supper. ‘So that Gustavus can get used to George and Max,’ hehad explained smoothly. She hated leaving his house and her bed-sitter was cold and uninviting.
The professor had lighted the gas fire for her, drawn the curtains over the window and turned on the table lamp, before going to the door, smiling at her muddled thanks and wishing her goodnight in a brisk manner.
There was no reason why he should have lingered, she told herself sleepily. Perhaps she would see him at the hospital—not to talk to, just to get a glimpse of him would do, so that she knew that he was still there.
In the morning, when she woke, she told herself that any foolish ideas about him must be squashed. She couldn’t pretend that she wasn’t in love with him, because she was and there was nothing she could do about that, but at least she would be sensible about it.
This was made easy for her since Miss Prescott was in a bad mood. Theodosia had no time at all to think about anything but the endless jobs her superior found for her to do,but in her dinner hour she went along to the women’s surgical ward and asked if she might see the old lady.
She was sitting propped up in bed, looking surprisingly cheerful. True, she was attached to a number of tubes and she looked pale, but she remembered Theodosia at once.
‘I’d have been dead if you hadn’t come along, you and that nice doctor. Patched me up a treat, they have! My daughter’s been to see me, too. Ever so grateful, we both are.’
‘I’m glad I just happened to be there, and it was marvellous luck that Professor Bendinck should drive past …’
‘Professor, is he? A very nice gentleman and ever so friendly. Came to see me this morning.’
Just to know that he had been there that morning made Theodosia feel happy. Perhaps she would see him too …
But there was no sign of him. The week slid slowly by with not so much as a glimpse of him. Friday came at last. She bade MissPrescott a temporary and thankful goodbye and made her way through the hospital. It had been raining all day and it was cold as well. A quiet weekend, she promised herself, making for the entrance.
The professor was standing by the main door and she saw him too late to make for the side door. As she reached him she gave him a cool nod and was brought to a halt by his hand.
‘There you are. I was afraid that I had missed you.’
‘I’ve been here all this week,’ said Theodosia, aware of the hand and filled with delight, yet at the same time peevish.
‘Yes, so have I. I have a request to make. Would you be free on Sunday to take the dogs into the country? George is very biddable, but Max needs a personal attendant.’ He added, most unfairly, ‘And since you took such an interest in him …’
She felt guilty. ‘Oh, dear. I should have thought … It was my fault, wasn’t it? If I hadn’tsaid anything … Ought he to go back to Worthing and find another owner?’
‘Certainly not. It is merely a question of him settling down. He is so pleased to be with George that he gets carried away. They couldn’t be separated.’ He had walked her through the door. ‘I’ll drive you home …’
‘There’s no need.’
Which was a silly remark for it was pouring with rain, as well as dark and cold.
She allowed herself to be stowed in the car and when they got to Mrs Towzer’s house he got out with her. ‘I’ll be here at ten o’clock on Sunday,’ he told her, and didn’t wait for her answer.
‘Really,’ said Theodosia, climbing the stairs. ‘He does take me for granted.’
But she knew that wasn’t true. He merely arranged
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