which she felt must engulf her.
Whatever she had expected it was certainly not silence, a tense frightening silence, while she tried in vain to read the enigmatic expression in the eyes which met and held hers. “ So that is what you believe? ”
The words were quietly spoken and seemed to Felicity more shattering than any storm. With a tremendous effort she turned away but as she moved from the window she was aware of her companion ’ s detaining hold on her arm. That momentary courage had left her as suddenly as it had appeared, her knees felt like water, yet with all the dignity she could muster, she turned again to face him. “ I ’ m sorry, I shouldn ’ t have said that, it ’ s not my affair, I should have kept my opinions to myself. ”
“ Sit down. ”
The words were in the nature of a command but Felicity was only too glad to comply. She felt utterly exhausted and, at that moment, would have given anything to retract her thoughtless outburst.
“ I imagine that you have been thinking this for some time? So that is how you really feel about your patient? ” There was an inscrutable smile playing round the corners of his lips as he asked the question.
Felicity longed to believe that the smile was not just the forerunner of a spate of scathing w o rds. Still, whatever the outcome she knew there was no turning back now, so with an assurance she was far from feeling, she answered: “ I ’ ve told you how I f eel, I can ’ t take that back but I ’ ve also apologized, so please let it go at that. ” There was a note of pleading in her voice.
“ Surely you don ’ t want to leave matters as they are. You deplore my attitude, then it is up to you to remedy it. ”
“ You mean that you don ’ t resent my criticism? Please try to understand, I do know how awful it is for you. Everything that ’ s worth while must depend on your complete recovery—whatever happens you must persevere and use your hand. It ’ s too early to know, so it ’ s wrong to despair yet. You aren ’ t giving yourself a chance—meantime, stop worrying and let yourself get well again, then at least you ’ ll be able to face facts ” —she forced a smile— “ always assuming there are any facts to face! ” she concluded in a lighter vein.
“ Of course you are right. ” The words were slowly and quietly spoken and there was an unmistakable friendliness in the smile which curved his lips and brought a twinkle to the deep-set eyes. For a moment his hand rested on hers where they lay clasped-tightly on her lap. “ I ’ ll bear in mind what you say. Sorry I haven ’ t done you credit as a patient, but then you see, you should have berated me sooner !
“ I should have done with any other patient, ” Felicity admitted, her cheeks dimpling into a smile. “ I ’ ve never nursed a member of the medical profession before, it isn ’ t so easy, one ’ s scope seems so limited! ”
“ I hadn ’ t thought of that, I suppose it is somewhat disarming. ” His eyes twinkled again. “ From now on I ’ ll be a model patient. How do we start? Shall I begin by attempting to finish that extremely unappetizing breakfast? ”
Felicity rose to her feet and looked down laughingly at her companion. “ I won ’ t ask you to do that, but I suggest you make an extra effort with your lunch and—rather more important—persevere with those fingers, don ’ t give in, try to use them. ”
Felicity felt with some elation that she had certainly emerged from the interview with flying colours. It had been a harassing ordeal but if she had managed to rouse Guy Brenton from the state of depression into which he had sunk, then it would have been well worth while. If only his fiancée e hadn ’ t been so absorbed in her own affairs, she could have done much towards encouraging him herself. His other visitors had been largely fellow medical men who had no doubt kept strictly off the subject of his injury, but for Alaine it should have been
Whatever she had expected it was certainly not silence, a tense frightening silence, while she tried in vain to read the enigmatic expression in the eyes which met and held hers. “ So that is what you believe? ”
The words were quietly spoken and seemed to Felicity more shattering than any storm. With a tremendous effort she turned away but as she moved from the window she was aware of her companion ’ s detaining hold on her arm. That momentary courage had left her as suddenly as it had appeared, her knees felt like water, yet with all the dignity she could muster, she turned again to face him. “ I ’ m sorry, I shouldn ’ t have said that, it ’ s not my affair, I should have kept my opinions to myself. ”
“ Sit down. ”
The words were in the nature of a command but Felicity was only too glad to comply. She felt utterly exhausted and, at that moment, would have given anything to retract her thoughtless outburst.
“ I imagine that you have been thinking this for some time? So that is how you really feel about your patient? ” There was an inscrutable smile playing round the corners of his lips as he asked the question.
Felicity longed to believe that the smile was not just the forerunner of a spate of scathing w o rds. Still, whatever the outcome she knew there was no turning back now, so with an assurance she was far from feeling, she answered: “ I ’ ve told you how I f eel, I can ’ t take that back but I ’ ve also apologized, so please let it go at that. ” There was a note of pleading in her voice.
“ Surely you don ’ t want to leave matters as they are. You deplore my attitude, then it is up to you to remedy it. ”
“ You mean that you don ’ t resent my criticism? Please try to understand, I do know how awful it is for you. Everything that ’ s worth while must depend on your complete recovery—whatever happens you must persevere and use your hand. It ’ s too early to know, so it ’ s wrong to despair yet. You aren ’ t giving yourself a chance—meantime, stop worrying and let yourself get well again, then at least you ’ ll be able to face facts ” —she forced a smile— “ always assuming there are any facts to face! ” she concluded in a lighter vein.
“ Of course you are right. ” The words were slowly and quietly spoken and there was an unmistakable friendliness in the smile which curved his lips and brought a twinkle to the deep-set eyes. For a moment his hand rested on hers where they lay clasped-tightly on her lap. “ I ’ ll bear in mind what you say. Sorry I haven ’ t done you credit as a patient, but then you see, you should have berated me sooner !
“ I should have done with any other patient, ” Felicity admitted, her cheeks dimpling into a smile. “ I ’ ve never nursed a member of the medical profession before, it isn ’ t so easy, one ’ s scope seems so limited! ”
“ I hadn ’ t thought of that, I suppose it is somewhat disarming. ” His eyes twinkled again. “ From now on I ’ ll be a model patient. How do we start? Shall I begin by attempting to finish that extremely unappetizing breakfast? ”
Felicity rose to her feet and looked down laughingly at her companion. “ I won ’ t ask you to do that, but I suggest you make an extra effort with your lunch and—rather more important—persevere with those fingers, don ’ t give in, try to use them. ”
Felicity felt with some elation that she had certainly emerged from the interview with flying colours. It had been a harassing ordeal but if she had managed to rouse Guy Brenton from the state of depression into which he had sunk, then it would have been well worth while. If only his fiancée e hadn ’ t been so absorbed in her own affairs, she could have done much towards encouraging him herself. His other visitors had been largely fellow medical men who had no doubt kept strictly off the subject of his injury, but for Alaine it should have been
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