The Citadel by A. J. Cronin Page B

cheap exhibition of authority. I ought to be kicked – hard. What you did about the kid was splendid. I admire you for it. After all it’s better to observe the spirit than the letter of the law. Sorry to bother you with all this but I had to say it. Good night!’
    He could not see her face. Nor did he wait for her answer. He swung round and walked down the road. For the first time in many days he felt happy.

Chapter Seven
    The half-yearly return of the practice had come in from the Company’s offices, giving Miss Page matter for serious reflection and another topic to discuss with Aneurin Rees, the bank manager. For the first time in eighteen months the figures showed an upward jump. There were over seventy more men on ‘Doctor Page’s list’ than there had been before Manson’s arrival.
    Pleased with the increase in the cheque Blodwen nevertheless nursed a most disturbing thought. At mealtimes Andrew caught her unguardedly fixing him with a queer inquiring stare. On the Wednesday following Mrs Bramwell’s social evening Blodwen came into lunch with unusual vivacity.
    ‘I declare!’ she remarked. ‘I’ve just been thinking. It’s nearly four months since you been here, doctor. And you haven’t done too badly, either. I’m not complaining. Mind you, it isn’t like Doctor Page himself. Oh, dear, no! Mr Watkins was only saying the other day how they were all looking forward to Doctor Page coming back. Doctor Page is so clever. Mr Watkins told me they would never dream of having anybody in his place.’
    She laid herself out to describe, in picturesque detail, the extraordinary skill and ability of her brother. ‘You wouldn’t believe it,’ she exclaimed, nodding her head. ‘There’s nothing he can’t do or hasn’t done. Operations! You ought to have seen them. Let me tell you this, doctor, he’s the cleverest man that’s ever been in this valley.’
    Andrew made no reply. Her purpose was plain to him and he thought it, in its tenacious loyalty, both tragic and kind.
    Meanwhile she sat back in her chair and gazed at him, trying to read the effect of her words. Then she smiled confidently.
    ‘There’ll be great rejoicings in Drineffy when Doctor Page gets back to work. And it’ll be soon too. In the summer, I said to Mr Watkins, in the summer Doctor Page will be back.’
    Returning from his afternoon round towards the end of the same week Andrew was shocked to find Edward seated in a chair by the front porch, fully dressed, a rug over his knees and a cap stuck upon his head. A sharp wind was blowing and the gleam of April sunshine which bathed the tragic figure was pale and cold.
    ‘There now,’ cried Miss Page, coming triumphantly towards Manson from the porch. ‘You see, don’t you. Doctor’s up ! I’ve just telephoned Mr Watkins to tell him doctor’s better. He’ll soon be back at work, won’t you, dear?’
    Andrew felt the blood rush to his brow.
    ‘Who got him down here?’
    ‘I did,’ said Blodwen quickly. ‘And why not? He’s my brother. And he’s better.’
    ‘He’s not fit to be up. Far from it.’ Andrew threw the words at her in a low tone. ‘Do as I tell you. Help me get him back to bed at once.’
    ‘Yes, yes,’ Edward said feebly. ‘Get me back to bed. I’m cold. I’m not right. I – I don’t feel well.’ And to Manson’s distress the sick man began to whimper.
    Instantly Blodwen was in remorseful tears beside him. Down on her knees she dropped, her arms around him, contrite, exclaiming:
    ‘There now, dearest. You shall go back to bed, poor lamb. Blodwen made a mistake. Blodwen’ll take care of you. Blodwen loves you, Edward dear.’
    She kissed his stiff cheek.
    Half an hour later, with Edward upstairs and comfortable again, Andrew came to the kitchen, upset.
    Annie was now a genuine friend, many a confidence they had exchanged in this same kitchen and many an apple and currant griddle cake the middle-aged woman had slipped out of the larder for him when he