easy.
In spite of her elation there remained an underlying feeling of disappointment that she would not be able to see the good which might result from her efforts. Soon he would go down to his home in Buckinghamshire and his progress would no longer be any concern of hers. Engrossed in her thoughts, the hours passed rapidly and when Alaine Jason appeared in the corridor leading to the ward, Felicity realized that it must be close on tea-time.
“ Hallo. ” Alaine waved her hand airily.
“ Good afternoon, would you like me to get you some tea while you ’ re with Mr. Brenton? ”
“ Not for me—I ’ m not stopping. ” Alaine flashed a smile at Felicity. “ I ’ ve already seen Guy, I came along early, I didn ’ t see you anywhere around so I went along in. ” She paused, then, apparently choosing her words carefully, added:
“ I want to talk to you —there is something I must say, I haven ’ t very long, is there somewhere private where we can go? ”
“ Sister ’ s office is available. ” Felicity led the. way and threw open the door. She hoped that her voice sounded cordial but she didn ’ t feel in the least like a prolonged talk with Alaine Jason.
“ I knew that once Guy was out of bed he ’ d get restless— he tells me that this afternoon he arranged with Mr. MacFarlayne to go home to convalesce. ”
“ He mentioned it to me this morning, ” Felicity admitted. “ I knew he meant to discuss it with the surgeon but I haven ’ t spoken to Mr. Brenton since then. ” Felicity sincerely hoped there was no apparent, sign of despondency in her tone.
“ Guy is leaving the day after tomorrow. ” Alaine gave a short laugh. “ I ’ m not too pleased about it, I can ’ t run down to Buckinghamshire every five minutes. I may be able to get down at week-ends but that ’ s about all. ” With a restless movement she flung off her furs and delved in her handbag for the inevitable cigarette.
“ You wanted to ask me something? ” Felicity began tentatively as she pulled up a chair for her visitor and seated herself at the desk.
Ignoring the chair, Alaine crossed restlessly to the window, stared out in sil e nce for a moment, then turned back to confront her companion. “ I am in a bit of a jam, I want you to help me. ”
“ I don ’ t quite understand, of course if there ’ s anything —”
“ There is something—something important! ” Alaine broke in impatiently. “ You ’ ll be packing for Guy, won ’ t you? I mean you ’ ll be getting his things together for him? ”
“ I suppose so. ” Felicity laughed lightly, she couldn ’ t help it, Alaine instilled such drama into the most trivial words. “ He hasn ’ t got much to pack, just his pyjamas and dressing-gown, shaving tackle and oddments which his secretary sent over after the accident and of course the suit and overcoat he was wearing when he arrived. ”
“ That ’ s it! ” Alaine exclaimed vehemently as she stubbed out her half-smoked cigarette. “ You remember telling me that occasionally shock will cause people to forget what happened before an accident? You explained that sometimes memory never comes back, you do remember, don ’ t you? ”
“ Yes, that is quite right, ” Felicity agreed with some curiosity.
“ Guy doesn ’ t remember a thing about it, I ’ ve realized that from the first, he asks me such odd questions, I know he hasn ’ t the remotest idea of that evening ’ s happenings, they seem to be entirely blotted out. He didn ’ t even recall where we were when the car crashed, where we were going and hadn ’ t any idea where we had been. I reminded him about the cocktail party but I could see it didn ’ t convey much and although I have brought it up since, not one single memory of that evening remains. ”
“ Then I think it ’ s unwise to continue probing, it may cause him unnecessary distress. Why not accept things as they are and not worry about him? Apart from that very brief
In spite of her elation there remained an underlying feeling of disappointment that she would not be able to see the good which might result from her efforts. Soon he would go down to his home in Buckinghamshire and his progress would no longer be any concern of hers. Engrossed in her thoughts, the hours passed rapidly and when Alaine Jason appeared in the corridor leading to the ward, Felicity realized that it must be close on tea-time.
“ Hallo. ” Alaine waved her hand airily.
“ Good afternoon, would you like me to get you some tea while you ’ re with Mr. Brenton? ”
“ Not for me—I ’ m not stopping. ” Alaine flashed a smile at Felicity. “ I ’ ve already seen Guy, I came along early, I didn ’ t see you anywhere around so I went along in. ” She paused, then, apparently choosing her words carefully, added:
“ I want to talk to you —there is something I must say, I haven ’ t very long, is there somewhere private where we can go? ”
“ Sister ’ s office is available. ” Felicity led the. way and threw open the door. She hoped that her voice sounded cordial but she didn ’ t feel in the least like a prolonged talk with Alaine Jason.
“ I knew that once Guy was out of bed he ’ d get restless— he tells me that this afternoon he arranged with Mr. MacFarlayne to go home to convalesce. ”
“ He mentioned it to me this morning, ” Felicity admitted. “ I knew he meant to discuss it with the surgeon but I haven ’ t spoken to Mr. Brenton since then. ” Felicity sincerely hoped there was no apparent, sign of despondency in her tone.
“ Guy is leaving the day after tomorrow. ” Alaine gave a short laugh. “ I ’ m not too pleased about it, I can ’ t run down to Buckinghamshire every five minutes. I may be able to get down at week-ends but that ’ s about all. ” With a restless movement she flung off her furs and delved in her handbag for the inevitable cigarette.
“ You wanted to ask me something? ” Felicity began tentatively as she pulled up a chair for her visitor and seated herself at the desk.
Ignoring the chair, Alaine crossed restlessly to the window, stared out in sil e nce for a moment, then turned back to confront her companion. “ I am in a bit of a jam, I want you to help me. ”
“ I don ’ t quite understand, of course if there ’ s anything —”
“ There is something—something important! ” Alaine broke in impatiently. “ You ’ ll be packing for Guy, won ’ t you? I mean you ’ ll be getting his things together for him? ”
“ I suppose so. ” Felicity laughed lightly, she couldn ’ t help it, Alaine instilled such drama into the most trivial words. “ He hasn ’ t got much to pack, just his pyjamas and dressing-gown, shaving tackle and oddments which his secretary sent over after the accident and of course the suit and overcoat he was wearing when he arrived. ”
“ That ’ s it! ” Alaine exclaimed vehemently as she stubbed out her half-smoked cigarette. “ You remember telling me that occasionally shock will cause people to forget what happened before an accident? You explained that sometimes memory never comes back, you do remember, don ’ t you? ”
“ Yes, that is quite right, ” Felicity agreed with some curiosity.
“ Guy doesn ’ t remember a thing about it, I ’ ve realized that from the first, he asks me such odd questions, I know he hasn ’ t the remotest idea of that evening ’ s happenings, they seem to be entirely blotted out. He didn ’ t even recall where we were when the car crashed, where we were going and hadn ’ t any idea where we had been. I reminded him about the cocktail party but I could see it didn ’ t convey much and although I have brought it up since, not one single memory of that evening remains. ”
“ Then I think it ’ s unwise to continue probing, it may cause him unnecessary distress. Why not accept things as they are and not worry about him? Apart from that very brief
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