by the time they return. If you ’ ll excuse me I ’ ll slip out and mail it now. I gathered it was of some importance. ”
Left alone, Philip looked at Trudie, wondering how and where he could begin to say what he was feeling, but before he could frame the words there was the sound of a car outside. A moment or so later Dr. Hislop strode into the room.
“ Nothing to worry about, ” he informed them, taking their interest in the Miller boy for granted. “ I ’ ve brought him back here. Now Geoff’s taking the motorcycle to the police station for examination. I ’ ll be back soon, ” he promised over his shoulder and disappeared, presumably to patch up whatever “ young Miller ” had done to himself.
“ Is it often like this at The Cedars? ” Philip surprised himself by the question, but it was something he really wanted to know. Trudie smiled.
“ Quite often, ” she said simply. “ I ’ m afraid Geoff’s right. People in Thrackwaite tend to rely on Dad for lots more than just attending to their ailments. He likes it, ” she added with perfect truth, “ and he ’ d be hurt now if they turned to anyone else. I know a doctor is the most obvious person to call when there ’ s been an accident. But Dad won ’ t call the ambulance men out unless it ’ s really necessary, or fill a hospital bed unless it ’ s for something he can ’ t deal with himself, or that they can do better. It keeps him from brooding too much, ” she added reflectively, so that Philip wondered if this was another obscure reference to her dead twin. “ He hasn ’ t really ever recovered from missing Mother, you see, ” she went on slowly, “ and now there ’ s Garth ...”
Philip let the conversation die into silence, but there was no strain about the lack of words between them. Normally, if left alone with a woman he would have been the victim of a mounting feeling of panic. What was it about this woman that had such a restful, reassuring effect upon him? Whatever it was he would like it to continue, and now it see m ed an opportunity had presented itself for them to talk privately. He turned to her, praying soundlessly but sincerely for the right words, the right approach, so that he or his intentions should not be misunderstood.
“ Trudie, ” he began, “ I said I would like to talk to you ... privately. There is something you could do for me ... if you would. But, ” he hesitated a moment, trying to choose his words with care, “ if you feel I ’ m asking too much, if you can ’ t understand what ’ s worrying me, turn it down flat, please. Don ’ t pretend. ”
“ I won ’ t need to pretend if there is anything I can do to help you, ” she said softly, but with such purpose that he had to believe her. “ Try and tell me what this is all about. ”
CHAPTER THREE
Philip would never have believed it could be so hard to choose exactly the right words. Not looking at her, but instead staring ahead at the now cheerfully blazing fire that Mrs. Emma had replenished with fresh logs and pine cones, he began.
“ What was your first thought—if you gave any thought to the matter at all—when you heard I ’ d been appointed superintendent at the extension? ” he asked.
“ Of course I had thoughts about it, ” she said, quietly and obviously sincerely. “ We all did, thoughts and speculations, too; and although none of us knew whether or not you ’ d applied, all of us were certain that if you had you were the right choice. ”
“ All of us? ” Philip asked curiously. “ The family, you mean? ”
“ Good heavens, no! ” She was laughing, but the laughter was gentle and kind. “ I ’ m referring to the nursing staff, ” she assured him.
“ And when you knew? ” Philip pressed the point.
“ That you ’ d received the appointment? We were delighted, though sorry it meant you ’ d be leaving St. Catherine ’ s. I ’ m speaking for myself, of course, ” she amended hastily. “ I can ’
Left alone, Philip looked at Trudie, wondering how and where he could begin to say what he was feeling, but before he could frame the words there was the sound of a car outside. A moment or so later Dr. Hislop strode into the room.
“ Nothing to worry about, ” he informed them, taking their interest in the Miller boy for granted. “ I ’ ve brought him back here. Now Geoff’s taking the motorcycle to the police station for examination. I ’ ll be back soon, ” he promised over his shoulder and disappeared, presumably to patch up whatever “ young Miller ” had done to himself.
“ Is it often like this at The Cedars? ” Philip surprised himself by the question, but it was something he really wanted to know. Trudie smiled.
“ Quite often, ” she said simply. “ I ’ m afraid Geoff’s right. People in Thrackwaite tend to rely on Dad for lots more than just attending to their ailments. He likes it, ” she added with perfect truth, “ and he ’ d be hurt now if they turned to anyone else. I know a doctor is the most obvious person to call when there ’ s been an accident. But Dad won ’ t call the ambulance men out unless it ’ s really necessary, or fill a hospital bed unless it ’ s for something he can ’ t deal with himself, or that they can do better. It keeps him from brooding too much, ” she added reflectively, so that Philip wondered if this was another obscure reference to her dead twin. “ He hasn ’ t really ever recovered from missing Mother, you see, ” she went on slowly, “ and now there ’ s Garth ...”
Philip let the conversation die into silence, but there was no strain about the lack of words between them. Normally, if left alone with a woman he would have been the victim of a mounting feeling of panic. What was it about this woman that had such a restful, reassuring effect upon him? Whatever it was he would like it to continue, and now it see m ed an opportunity had presented itself for them to talk privately. He turned to her, praying soundlessly but sincerely for the right words, the right approach, so that he or his intentions should not be misunderstood.
“ Trudie, ” he began, “ I said I would like to talk to you ... privately. There is something you could do for me ... if you would. But, ” he hesitated a moment, trying to choose his words with care, “ if you feel I ’ m asking too much, if you can ’ t understand what ’ s worrying me, turn it down flat, please. Don ’ t pretend. ”
“ I won ’ t need to pretend if there is anything I can do to help you, ” she said softly, but with such purpose that he had to believe her. “ Try and tell me what this is all about. ”
CHAPTER THREE
Philip would never have believed it could be so hard to choose exactly the right words. Not looking at her, but instead staring ahead at the now cheerfully blazing fire that Mrs. Emma had replenished with fresh logs and pine cones, he began.
“ What was your first thought—if you gave any thought to the matter at all—when you heard I ’ d been appointed superintendent at the extension? ” he asked.
“ Of course I had thoughts about it, ” she said, quietly and obviously sincerely. “ We all did, thoughts and speculations, too; and although none of us knew whether or not you ’ d applied, all of us were certain that if you had you were the right choice. ”
“ All of us? ” Philip asked curiously. “ The family, you mean? ”
“ Good heavens, no! ” She was laughing, but the laughter was gentle and kind. “ I ’ m referring to the nursing staff, ” she assured him.
“ And when you knew? ” Philip pressed the point.
“ That you ’ d received the appointment? We were delighted, though sorry it meant you ’ d be leaving St. Catherine ’ s. I ’ m speaking for myself, of course, ” she amended hastily. “ I can ’
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