Read Online A Match for Sister Maggy by Betty Neels - Free Book Online Page A

Mevrouw Doelsma was made comfortable, reassured and generally made much of. Maggy was surprised to find Sir Charles at her elbow; in answer to her enquiring look, he said,
    â€˜No. I’m not coming with you—but Paul will be. I was allowed to make sure that everything was all right before take-off.’ He stayed a few minutes, and then took his leave, saying,
    â€˜You’ll do, Henrietta. I’ll be over to see you as soon asI can spare time for a holiday. Have a good trip—you too, Maggy, and I hope you enjoy your stay in Friesland.’ He waved cheerfully from the door.
    Mevrouw Doelsma watched Maggy fixing the portable oxygen cylinder so that it could be got at quickly and easily if it was wanted. She caught her eye and smiled and said,
    â€˜What a nuisance I’m being to everyone.’ The smile flickered and went out. Her voice faltered. ‘I hope you don’t have to use it, Maggy.’
    â€˜Och, no,’ Maggy said comfortably. ‘It’s like taking an umbrella with you to keep off the rain.’
    Her patient giggled, and Paul, who had just entered the plane, decided that Maggy was indeed a blessing, with her calm efficient ways and her soothing Highland voice. He stowed away his medical bag and took the seat by his mother, leaving the window seat for Maggy. Having adjusted their seat belts, he talked gently about nothing in particular until they were airborne, when he opened The Times and a Dutch magazine called Elsevier, and became immersed in reading them. However, from time to time his eye strayed to Maggy, guarding her patient like a hawk, but finding time to glance out of the porthole with wide eyes.
    â€˜Have you not flown before, Sister?’ he asked casually.
    She looked across at him, her eyes alight with excitement.
    â€˜No, never. I’ve never left England before.’ As she said it she realised how amusing she must be to the much-travelled doctor. She looked at him again to see if he was laughing at her, but he wasn’t.
    â€˜We must make certain that you see as much of Holland as possible before you go back home.’
    He became immersed in his papers again, but presently, when his mother went to sleep, he folded them carefully and crossed over to the seat beside Maggy. The coast of Hollandwas visible; he leant across her, and started to point out landmarks. Their heads were very close together. Maggy kept her gaze on the view below her, not hearing a word of what he was saying, but thinking of the weeks ahead.
    The plane touched down at Schiphol, and with a minimum of delay and a maximum of efficiency Madame Doelsma was transferred to a small smart ambulance with rakish lines. Maggy was too occupied with her patient to do more than give a hasty look round. There was no sign of the doctor; she supposed he was seeing about their luggage. The white-coated ambulance driver prepared to shut them in, and said something to Maggy, who looked blank. Madame Doelsma murmured something and he laughed and looked at Maggy and nodded and gave the thumbs-up sign, the friendly little gesture warmed her heart.
    As soon as the door was shut, she began a systematic search of the ambulance, so that she would be familiar with the equipment if she should need it. When she had made a thorough inspection she sat herself down on the collapsible seat by her patient. It was a very small seat; she wriggled experimentally, reflecting on the long journey ahead of them, Mevrouw Doelsma was lying with her eyes closed, so Maggy allowed her attention to wander out of the window in the door of the ambulance. Drawn up within a few yards of their own vehicle was an ink-blue Rolls-Royce convertible. Dr Doelsma, hands in pockets, was leaning against its well-bred bonnet, talking to an elderly man by the boot, who was supervising the stowing away of the luggage. When this had been done to his entire satisfaction, the elderly man tipped the porter and went round to the doctor. Maggy