To Please the Doctor by Marjorie Moore Page A

and more recently to instruct him in the use of a cricket bat. He had learnt eagerly, and from the beginning had shown himself an adept at games, was already a swimmer of no mean ability, and showed a remarkable courage about everything. He was never known to cry, and the nearest approach to tears he ever reached was to give a long drawn out “ Oooh, ” rub his knuckles into his eyes and mutter, “ That hurted, that did, ” and carry on with whatever he had been doing. Darling Terry, it would be grand to feel his arms round her neck again, since with Jill he made no attempt to conceal his emotions.
    “ Are you asleep? ” Philip Traven ’ s query roused Jill from her thoughts. “ You haven ’ t said a word for miles. What ’ s the matter, is it too early in the morning for conversation, or don ’ t you believe in talking to the driver? ”
    “ A bit early admittedly, although by hospital standards I should have been round the wards by now. I was just thinking how pleasant it will be to be home. I think that people who live a community life always appreciate their homes more than those who are permanently in them. ”
    “ I agree. That ’ s why my visit to Brent Towers always meant so much to me. ” Philip spoke reminiscently. “ I shall never forget the marvellous times we had together there. You know I always was a bit goofy about you. ”
    “ What absolute rubbish. You are making it up. Y o u were never the slightest bit ‘ goofy, ’ as you call it, about me in the old days, and I ’ m certain that you ’ re not now. We ’ re just jolly good friends, and you know it perfectly well! ” Jill settled herself more snugly under the rug and stared out of the window. It was true what she had just told Philip. They were good friends and nothing more. He had always liked feminine company, and in his student days had been in and out of love more times than she could number, but he had never been serious for long, and the various girls did not appear to take him seriously either. After the depression of the past few weeks Jill was glad of his cheerful company, and with a renewed sense of wellbeing she was able to enjoy to the full the wide vista of the rolling downs and the long undulating sweep of the Surrey hills. Even in winter the countryside appealed to her, and it was a positive tonic to see the steep slopes after the barren flatness of the scenery round Sunsand Bay. A fine layer of frost covered the trees and hedges, and now that a watery sun was making a brave display, the bare branches were sparkling in the faint sunshine. It was bitterly cold still, and Jill wondered if perhaps there might be a fall of snow. That would be fun. They ’ d be able to go tobogganing. She ’ d done that during one cold spell years ago with Philip. Should she remind him? No, better not, it was no good helping to make him sentimental; he needed so very little encouragement. In spite of her warm coverings Jill shivered again, and as they had reached the outskirts of a village, she felt an urge for a hot drink.
    “What about stopping for coffee. I’d like to have a warm up before we get there; it can’t take us much longer, and I don’t want to arrive looking pinched with cold and with a red nose.”
    “Red nose be b othered! It isn’t even pink!” Philip protested. “Still, it’s a jolly good idea to have a drink. What about a gin? The pubs are open.”
    “ Only just open! ” Jill countered. “ No, I ’ d far rather have a coffee. What about that place at the end of the street on the right with the gay sign? Why, it ’ s called the ‘ Coffee Bean. ’ I ’ m sure that ’ s the spot for us; the road ’ s fairly wide here, you can park the car outside. Come on, this ’ ll do splendidly. ”
    The interior of the ‘ Coffee Bean ’ was as welcoming as its exterior had indicated, and soon Jill and Philip were seated before a blazing log fire with steaming cups of coffee in front of them. An aromatic smell