Read Online To Please the Doctor by Marjorie Moore - Free Book Online
Authors: Marjorie Moore
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to give way, ” she added encouragingly.
“Directly, I meant Dr. McRey. I knew that he ’ d be exacting to work for. I wasn ’ t really scared, I felt I could do it— you did, too, didn ’ t you? ”
“Of course, I shouldn ’ t have recommended you for the job otherwise. I still think you can. I haven ’ t changed my mind. ” Harriet ’ s lips curved into a smile. “ Cheer up Jill, snap out of it; I had a feeling you ’ d be brooding about this morning, but I had no idea you would be taking things so much to heart.”
“I can’t h elp it. I ’ ve proved to that wretched man that his first impression was right—I ’ m an ineffi ci ent muddling female. I am going to resign immediately . In fact I ’ ve already written my letter to Matron, ” she ended dismally.
“ What you? Quit on a job! I don ’ t believe it! ” Harriet waved aside the suggestion. “ You wouldn ’ t give in so easily—give Duncan the laugh—and Brenda Malling too . Non sense, you must carry on and the devil to b oth of them!”
“ It ’ s not Ma l ling I worry about, ” Jill asserted, then paused, debating the matter in her own mind. She certainly didn ’ t worry about her Staff Nurse; she ’ d met too many of the jealous type during her years of training. She did care what Duncan McRey thought. Why, she couldn ’ t imagine, unless it was due to her innate pride in her work. “ I couldn ’ t bear to go on working for an Honorary who lacked confidence in me, ” she admitted with some diffidence. “ I don ’ t like the man and resent his manner, but I confess he is the kind of person who should bring out one ’ s best. So far, in my case, I don ’ t seem to have succeeded in showing my best, that ’ s why I ’ ve written Matron I want to resign. ”
“ Then you can just tear up the letter! ” Harriet spoke with emphasis. “ You can ’ t let me down, you must sit tight and fight it out! ” She rested her hand for a moment on Jill ’ s arm. “ Promise me you won ’ t do anything in a hurry. Give yourself a little longer—I ’ ll stand by you, you know I will. ”
“ You ’ ve been a brick! I should have cooked my goose this morning if it hadn ’ t been for your heartening presence. It was all I could do to hold my tongue; I ’ ve never felt so strong an urge to shout at an Honorary as I did over those notes, that satirical smile of his made me see red. I caught your warning glance and nearly choked in an effort to restrain myself. All right, I ’ ll carry on for a bit—at least, I ’ ll try, ” she promised, in her heart glad to have been dissuaded from her intention.
“ That ’ s the stuff. ” Harriet threw her cigarette end into the ashtray as she rose to her feet. “I’ ve got to get back now, but I ’ ll be working too late to get home for a meal, so how about a spot of dinner together ? ”
“ I ’ d love it—what time and where? ”
“ There is only one place you can get a decent meal, that hotel at the end of the front. Meet me here at the gates at eight; it ’ s quite a step. We ’ ll take the car. ”
Her brief but reassuring conversation with Harriet had done a lot to dispel Jill ’ s gloom. Even the weather seemed ’ to be improving; the rain had ceased and a water patch of blue peeped through a rift in the low-lying clouds. Tea in the Sisters ’ lounge was a pleasant meal, too. It was a cosy room and Jill had, from t he first, found her fellow Sisters helpful and friendly. Conversation was chiefly of hospital matters, and Jill listened with interest, eager to learn all she could of current affairs. With Christmas only a few weeks off, plans for the festive season naturally drifted into the conversation, their ideas for decorating their particular ward, the entertainments to be organized for staff and patients, the annual dance and various other projects for bringing to St. Joseph ’ s the true spirit of Christmas. The Sister from the surgical side of the Children ’
“Directly, I meant Dr. McRey. I knew that he ’ d be exacting to work for. I wasn ’ t really scared, I felt I could do it— you did, too, didn ’ t you? ”
“Of course, I shouldn ’ t have recommended you for the job otherwise. I still think you can. I haven ’ t changed my mind. ” Harriet ’ s lips curved into a smile. “ Cheer up Jill, snap out of it; I had a feeling you ’ d be brooding about this morning, but I had no idea you would be taking things so much to heart.”
“I can’t h elp it. I ’ ve proved to that wretched man that his first impression was right—I ’ m an ineffi ci ent muddling female. I am going to resign immediately . In fact I ’ ve already written my letter to Matron, ” she ended dismally.
“ What you? Quit on a job! I don ’ t believe it! ” Harriet waved aside the suggestion. “ You wouldn ’ t give in so easily—give Duncan the laugh—and Brenda Malling too . Non sense, you must carry on and the devil to b oth of them!”
“ It ’ s not Ma l ling I worry about, ” Jill asserted, then paused, debating the matter in her own mind. She certainly didn ’ t worry about her Staff Nurse; she ’ d met too many of the jealous type during her years of training. She did care what Duncan McRey thought. Why, she couldn ’ t imagine, unless it was due to her innate pride in her work. “ I couldn ’ t bear to go on working for an Honorary who lacked confidence in me, ” she admitted with some diffidence. “ I don ’ t like the man and resent his manner, but I confess he is the kind of person who should bring out one ’ s best. So far, in my case, I don ’ t seem to have succeeded in showing my best, that ’ s why I ’ ve written Matron I want to resign. ”
“ Then you can just tear up the letter! ” Harriet spoke with emphasis. “ You can ’ t let me down, you must sit tight and fight it out! ” She rested her hand for a moment on Jill ’ s arm. “ Promise me you won ’ t do anything in a hurry. Give yourself a little longer—I ’ ll stand by you, you know I will. ”
“ You ’ ve been a brick! I should have cooked my goose this morning if it hadn ’ t been for your heartening presence. It was all I could do to hold my tongue; I ’ ve never felt so strong an urge to shout at an Honorary as I did over those notes, that satirical smile of his made me see red. I caught your warning glance and nearly choked in an effort to restrain myself. All right, I ’ ll carry on for a bit—at least, I ’ ll try, ” she promised, in her heart glad to have been dissuaded from her intention.
“ That ’ s the stuff. ” Harriet threw her cigarette end into the ashtray as she rose to her feet. “I’ ve got to get back now, but I ’ ll be working too late to get home for a meal, so how about a spot of dinner together ? ”
“ I ’ d love it—what time and where? ”
“ There is only one place you can get a decent meal, that hotel at the end of the front. Meet me here at the gates at eight; it ’ s quite a step. We ’ ll take the car. ”
Her brief but reassuring conversation with Harriet had done a lot to dispel Jill ’ s gloom. Even the weather seemed ’ to be improving; the rain had ceased and a water patch of blue peeped through a rift in the low-lying clouds. Tea in the Sisters ’ lounge was a pleasant meal, too. It was a cosy room and Jill had, from t he first, found her fellow Sisters helpful and friendly. Conversation was chiefly of hospital matters, and Jill listened with interest, eager to learn all she could of current affairs. With Christmas only a few weeks off, plans for the festive season naturally drifted into the conversation, their ideas for decorating their particular ward, the entertainments to be organized for staff and patients, the annual dance and various other projects for bringing to St. Joseph ’ s the true spirit of Christmas. The Sister from the surgical side of the Children ’
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