what is it? ” Felicity made an effort to keep her voice steady.
“ You went off duty at seven-thirty last night? ” As Felicity nodded assent, Sister continued: “ You knew Mr. MacFarlayne ’ s orders were that Mr. Brenton was to be kept as quiet as possible and on no account to have visitors? ”
“ Of course, ” Felicity agreed,
“ When Night Sister came on duty at eight, Mr. Brenton had a visitor, his fiancé e had been with him almost an hour. Sister, not realizing that anyone was there, had not interrupted them. As you knew, he was utterly unfit to receive anyone; the visit left him completely exhausted, followed by a sharp rise of temperature. ”
“ But, Sister —” Felicity protested, but before she could go on speaking, her companion interrupted her.
“ There is no excuse. I know you were entitled to go off duty before Night Sister ’ s arrival but you were in charge, and it was up to you to see that Nurse Bellamy had detailed instructions. ”
“ I did, I told her exactly what Mr. MacFarlayne had said, ” Felicity insisted.
“ I ’ m sorry, dear, but there it is. ” Sister gave a deep sigh. “ It seems that Night Sister had to call Mr. Elver, and he phoned for Mr. MacFarlayne who came along about midnight. Naturally, Mr. MacFarlayne was very angry that his instructions had been ignored and he complained to Matron ... I saw Matron this morning. I explained that it had been my half-day but you may be sure that I spoke up for you as much as I could. She wants to see you. ” Sister Robinson paused. “ I ’ m sorry, dear, I told her how reliable you always are, and I said I was confident it couldn ’ t be your fault. ”
“ I passed on Mr. MacFarlayne ’ s instructions ... I may not have specifically mentioned visitors, I hardly thought anyone would come at that time of night, but in any case I imagined that instructions for complete quiet would cover any such contingency. ” There was a note of bitterness in Felicity ’ s voice. The censure was so unexpected—and unusual—she couldn ’ t recall any occasion during her three years at St. Edwin ’ s when she had been brought to book for any neglect of duty. For Matron to send for her too, it was unbelievable, and a spasm of apprehension assailed her. Of course she would only get thoroughly lectured but that was something which she had so far managed to avoid and had hoped never to experience. Her apprehension turned to something approaching anger. So those were the methods of the suave Mr. MacFarlayne? To be all honey to one ’ s face and to rush to Matron with complaints behind one ’ s back! She ’ d rather have Guy Brenton to deal with any day, at least he expressed his complaints to one ’ s face, he didn ’ t hide his disapproval behind a bland, ingratiating smile.
“ You know, dear, I ’ m as sorry about all this as you are. ” Sister Robinson gave Felicity ’ s shoulder a reassuring pat. “ Run along to Matron now and get it over. ”
When later Felicity returned from an uncomfortable half hour in Matron ’ s office she was filled with a sense of burning resentment. Fundamentally, no doubt, the blame lay with the nurse with whom she had left instructions, but Felicity knew only too well that in fact the sister or nurse in charge invariably got the blame.
Owing to her delay in visiting Matron, Sister Robinson had taken over her duties and was apparently attending Mr. Brenton. Felicity was glad of the respite; in some peculiar way she wanted to defer the moment when she would have to enter his room, she ’ d hate to feel that any retrogression in his condition might be due to her, and whatever her personal ideas in the matter might be, Matron hadn ’ t minced her words. Forcing a smile to hide the ache at her heart, Felicity made her way round the ward assisting and advising her juniors. The curious looks and whispers made it plain that every detail of the night ’ s happenings was known by even the most junior
“ You went off duty at seven-thirty last night? ” As Felicity nodded assent, Sister continued: “ You knew Mr. MacFarlayne ’ s orders were that Mr. Brenton was to be kept as quiet as possible and on no account to have visitors? ”
“ Of course, ” Felicity agreed,
“ When Night Sister came on duty at eight, Mr. Brenton had a visitor, his fiancé e had been with him almost an hour. Sister, not realizing that anyone was there, had not interrupted them. As you knew, he was utterly unfit to receive anyone; the visit left him completely exhausted, followed by a sharp rise of temperature. ”
“ But, Sister —” Felicity protested, but before she could go on speaking, her companion interrupted her.
“ There is no excuse. I know you were entitled to go off duty before Night Sister ’ s arrival but you were in charge, and it was up to you to see that Nurse Bellamy had detailed instructions. ”
“ I did, I told her exactly what Mr. MacFarlayne had said, ” Felicity insisted.
“ I ’ m sorry, dear, but there it is. ” Sister gave a deep sigh. “ It seems that Night Sister had to call Mr. Elver, and he phoned for Mr. MacFarlayne who came along about midnight. Naturally, Mr. MacFarlayne was very angry that his instructions had been ignored and he complained to Matron ... I saw Matron this morning. I explained that it had been my half-day but you may be sure that I spoke up for you as much as I could. She wants to see you. ” Sister Robinson paused. “ I ’ m sorry, dear, I told her how reliable you always are, and I said I was confident it couldn ’ t be your fault. ”
“ I passed on Mr. MacFarlayne ’ s instructions ... I may not have specifically mentioned visitors, I hardly thought anyone would come at that time of night, but in any case I imagined that instructions for complete quiet would cover any such contingency. ” There was a note of bitterness in Felicity ’ s voice. The censure was so unexpected—and unusual—she couldn ’ t recall any occasion during her three years at St. Edwin ’ s when she had been brought to book for any neglect of duty. For Matron to send for her too, it was unbelievable, and a spasm of apprehension assailed her. Of course she would only get thoroughly lectured but that was something which she had so far managed to avoid and had hoped never to experience. Her apprehension turned to something approaching anger. So those were the methods of the suave Mr. MacFarlayne? To be all honey to one ’ s face and to rush to Matron with complaints behind one ’ s back! She ’ d rather have Guy Brenton to deal with any day, at least he expressed his complaints to one ’ s face, he didn ’ t hide his disapproval behind a bland, ingratiating smile.
“ You know, dear, I ’ m as sorry about all this as you are. ” Sister Robinson gave Felicity ’ s shoulder a reassuring pat. “ Run along to Matron now and get it over. ”
When later Felicity returned from an uncomfortable half hour in Matron ’ s office she was filled with a sense of burning resentment. Fundamentally, no doubt, the blame lay with the nurse with whom she had left instructions, but Felicity knew only too well that in fact the sister or nurse in charge invariably got the blame.
Owing to her delay in visiting Matron, Sister Robinson had taken over her duties and was apparently attending Mr. Brenton. Felicity was glad of the respite; in some peculiar way she wanted to defer the moment when she would have to enter his room, she ’ d hate to feel that any retrogression in his condition might be due to her, and whatever her personal ideas in the matter might be, Matron hadn ’ t minced her words. Forcing a smile to hide the ache at her heart, Felicity made her way round the ward assisting and advising her juniors. The curious looks and whispers made it plain that every detail of the night ’ s happenings was known by even the most junior
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