ward, I ’ d better be available. ”
After a brief walk they turned in to the Hospital gates. The wide, tiled entrance hall always seemed to Felicity completely changed at night, no hurrying feet, no visitors making anxious enquiries at the porter ’ s desk, no nurses and white-coated students and doctors hurrying hither and thither, the tiles ringing with the echo of, their footsteps. One even missed the clanging of the lift gates which, during the busy day, never for one moment seemed to be at rest.
As they entered the porter approached. “ Mr. Elver, sir, Night Sister ’ s bin ringing you from ‘ John Mason ’ , she ’ d like you to look in before you goes to Residents, says she wants a word with you about Mr. Brenton, she didn ’ t seem too happy like, she ’ d like ter see you soon as she can. ”
“ O.K., Bates, I ’ ll go right over. ” He turned to his companions. “ Good night all, I ’ d better hurry over and see what the old girl wants. ”
Felicity had never been so glad to reach the sanctuary of her own room and close the door behind her. She felt suddenly dog tired and was relieved that she need no longer keep up any pretence of gaiety. With a sigh of relief she slipped out of her clothes and into the cool, loose comfort of her nightgown. It was sheer luxury to stretch her limbs beneath the sheets and lay her head back against the pillow. In spite of the comfort of relaxation a nagging sense of worry persisted. What was Night Sister concerned about? Could anything have gone wrong with her patient, any unforeseen contingency arisen? With tremendous will power Felicity shut out all the disquieting answers which crowded her imagination but even as she composed herself for sleep she realized that this must be the ve r y first time that she had gone to bed longing for the morning, counting the hours until she could return to her ward and shoulder again the responsibilities of her work.
CHAPTER FIVE
As Felicity had anticipated she had no difficulty in getting up the following morning, in fact she only remembered two former occasions when she had reported for duty early and then it had been due to her clock being fast, a fault which she had wasted no time in setting right. It was, however, disturbing to find that, in spite of her own timely appearance, Sister Robinson was already on the ward. Although not visible, her red-lined cloak thrown across her office chair, and her opened letters lying on the desk, proclaimed her presence.
She must, of course, be in Guy Brenton ’ s room and with some concern Felicity awaited her return. One or two of the night staff still lingered on the ward waiting to be relieved, as the day staff, one by one, made their appearance. With routine action Felicity commenced her work of the day, setting out Sister ’ s desk, sorting the patients ’ mail ... subconsciously she knew herself to be tensed and on edge as she awaited Sister Robinson ’ s appearance. Why had Sister come on duty so early? Was anything wrong? Was Mr. Brenton worse? As on the previous night a thousand questions chased each other through her mind. Even the Night Report Book was missing, she might have gleaned something from that; Night Sister had perhaps not completed her entries or Sister Robinson must have it in her possession.
“ Thank goodness you are early! ”
Felicity had never been so glad to see Sister before, although when she glanced-up and saw the worried lines on her face, her heart sank. “ Yes, Sister ... but you? I didn ’ t expect to see you on duty yet. ”
“ I had to see Matron ...” Her words trailed away as she sank into the chair at her desk. “ Pull up a chair, dear, I want to speak to you. ”
Felicity tried to control her quickened heart beats. Whatever could be wrong? Sister was always getting fussed up over nothing at all, Felicity was used to that, but somehow this morning there was real anxiety in the kindly expression of her grey eyes. “ Yes, Sister,
After a brief walk they turned in to the Hospital gates. The wide, tiled entrance hall always seemed to Felicity completely changed at night, no hurrying feet, no visitors making anxious enquiries at the porter ’ s desk, no nurses and white-coated students and doctors hurrying hither and thither, the tiles ringing with the echo of, their footsteps. One even missed the clanging of the lift gates which, during the busy day, never for one moment seemed to be at rest.
As they entered the porter approached. “ Mr. Elver, sir, Night Sister ’ s bin ringing you from ‘ John Mason ’ , she ’ d like you to look in before you goes to Residents, says she wants a word with you about Mr. Brenton, she didn ’ t seem too happy like, she ’ d like ter see you soon as she can. ”
“ O.K., Bates, I ’ ll go right over. ” He turned to his companions. “ Good night all, I ’ d better hurry over and see what the old girl wants. ”
Felicity had never been so glad to reach the sanctuary of her own room and close the door behind her. She felt suddenly dog tired and was relieved that she need no longer keep up any pretence of gaiety. With a sigh of relief she slipped out of her clothes and into the cool, loose comfort of her nightgown. It was sheer luxury to stretch her limbs beneath the sheets and lay her head back against the pillow. In spite of the comfort of relaxation a nagging sense of worry persisted. What was Night Sister concerned about? Could anything have gone wrong with her patient, any unforeseen contingency arisen? With tremendous will power Felicity shut out all the disquieting answers which crowded her imagination but even as she composed herself for sleep she realized that this must be the ve r y first time that she had gone to bed longing for the morning, counting the hours until she could return to her ward and shoulder again the responsibilities of her work.
CHAPTER FIVE
As Felicity had anticipated she had no difficulty in getting up the following morning, in fact she only remembered two former occasions when she had reported for duty early and then it had been due to her clock being fast, a fault which she had wasted no time in setting right. It was, however, disturbing to find that, in spite of her own timely appearance, Sister Robinson was already on the ward. Although not visible, her red-lined cloak thrown across her office chair, and her opened letters lying on the desk, proclaimed her presence.
She must, of course, be in Guy Brenton ’ s room and with some concern Felicity awaited her return. One or two of the night staff still lingered on the ward waiting to be relieved, as the day staff, one by one, made their appearance. With routine action Felicity commenced her work of the day, setting out Sister ’ s desk, sorting the patients ’ mail ... subconsciously she knew herself to be tensed and on edge as she awaited Sister Robinson ’ s appearance. Why had Sister come on duty so early? Was anything wrong? Was Mr. Brenton worse? As on the previous night a thousand questions chased each other through her mind. Even the Night Report Book was missing, she might have gleaned something from that; Night Sister had perhaps not completed her entries or Sister Robinson must have it in her possession.
“ Thank goodness you are early! ”
Felicity had never been so glad to see Sister before, although when she glanced-up and saw the worried lines on her face, her heart sank. “ Yes, Sister ... but you? I didn ’ t expect to see you on duty yet. ”
“ I had to see Matron ...” Her words trailed away as she sank into the chair at her desk. “ Pull up a chair, dear, I want to speak to you. ”
Felicity tried to control her quickened heart beats. Whatever could be wrong? Sister was always getting fussed up over nothing at all, Felicity was used to that, but somehow this morning there was real anxiety in the kindly expression of her grey eyes. “ Yes, Sister,
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