A Match for Sister Maggy by Betty Neels

she could now go to sleep. He kissed her cheek gently, said goodnight and went away, leaving Maggy to switch on the small night lamp before she too went to her room.
    It had become quite chilly. She looked at her watch, it was almost three o’clock. She got the cooling bottle from her bed and crept downstairs to fill it. There was a lamp burning in the hall, but the dining room was in darkness. Maggy made her away through it to the kitchen door andopened it. It looked very cosy. There was a brown earthenware tea-pot on the table, with cups and saucers, and a milk jug and sugar bowl. Dr Doelsma was making toast. He looked up.
    â€˜Ah, there you are! I was going to bring it up to your room.’ He saw the hot water bottle she was clutching, took the toast from toaster and said, ‘Butter these, will you, while I fill your water bottle.’ He didn’t seem to expect an answer, so she obediently took the toast and buttered it, while he filled the hot water bottle and took it up to her room.
    â€˜I could have taken it,’ Maggy said rather weakly when he came back.
    â€˜I’m sure you could.’ He poured the tea. ‘You are, I think, able to do most things very well.’
    He handed her a cup, then fetched one of the old-fashioned ladderback chairs and set it behind her. ‘Sit down.’ He pulled up a second chair opposite to her, and handed her a slice of toast. They drank and munched in restful silence until he asked suddenly,
    â€˜Maggy do you like me?’
    She put down her cup carefully. Her cheeks were pink, but she looked at him honestly.
    â€˜Aye, Doctor.’
    â€˜Even when I’m a wee evil-tempered man?’
    The pinkness spread, but she replied steadily, ‘Yes, even then.’
    He went on conversationally, ‘I like you—and admire your capabilities. Do you think we could be friends?’ He held out a firm, well kept hand. ‘I apologise again, Maggy.’
    Maggy took the hand, and her own was immediately engulfed in its clasp; it felt very comforting. She said rather timidly, ‘I was very rude; I’m sorry too. I thought you would send me back to England.’
    He raised dark eyebrows at this, and then burst out laughing.
    â€˜My dear girl, surely you know that we would be lost without you? It’s only because you are here that I am able to spend so much time in Leiden, and go to Utrecht whenever I wish.’
    Stien lived in Utrecht. Of course, he would want to go there whenever he could. The thought hurt Maggy like a physical blow. She took a drink of hot strong tea and nearly choked at his next words.
    â€˜Will you ride with me tomorrow, Maggy?’
    She didn’t trust herself to look up, but said shyly, ‘Thank you, I’d like to.’
    â€˜Er—I’ll ride Cobber this time.’ She did look up then, to find him smiling at her. He went on: ‘But I’ll tell Piet that you are to exercise him when I’m not here.’ He took no notice of her attempt to thank him, but continued, ‘I’m heaping coals of fire, aren’t I? We’ll take Mother for a run in the car tomorrow, and you shall drive; and don’t think that I said that because I don’t trust you to handle a car.’
    He smiled again, and this time Maggy smiled back. She might not have his love, but to have his friendship would be worth a great deal to her. She wondered if Stien knew how lucky she was. She got up, collected the cups and saucers and stacked them neatly in the sink.
    â€˜I think I’ll go to bed. Thank you for the tea, Dr Doelsma.’ She stood, drooping with sleep, her hair hanging unheeded around her shoulders, her eyes enormous in a face devoid of make-up.
    He looked at her briefly, then away again. ‘Shall we say seven-thirty tomorrow?’
    â€˜Yes—that’s provided Mevrouw Doelsma is all right.’
    He opened the door for her, and Maggy said good-night and walked sleepily across