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Authors: Marjorie Moore
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s Annexe was also enjoying a free half-day and eagerly explained to Jill all she hoped and planned to do for her ward. It meant hours of extra work, of course; hampers o f gifts to be collected from various depots, to be unpacked and sorted; Christmas trees to be decorated and one of the staff prevailed upon to act as Father Christmas. Jill found her troubles rapidly receding from her mind as she entered wholeheartedly into the discussion.
Later, when she was changing for her meeting with Harriet, she went over again the disturbing emotions of the afternoon. She knew that she ’ d hate to leave St. Joseph ’ s. Her dislike of Sunsand Bay was only a small issue, no seaside resort was attractive in mid-winter, but the hospital itself was the finest she had ever worked in. Her room already had an atmosphere of home, her office was comfortable—now it had been cleared of litter—and as for her ward, it was ideal, with its ample spacing, adequate cubicles, and the long windows which not only caught every hour of sunshine but led to a wide glass-protected verandah where beds could be wheeled summer or winter, providing the children with every available hour of sunshine.
Jill slipped a coat over her shoulders before closing the door behind her. Harriet was right. She ’ d be silly to allow herself to be bullied out of the best job she ’ d ever had, all these petty irritations would, no doubt, settle themselves in time. She suppressed a sigh, she sincerely hoped that time wouldn ’ t be too long delayed.
The rain had now definitely stopped, and although there was a cold nip in the air the sky was clear, and a crescent moon pierced the darkness as Jill stood at the hospital gates awaiting her friend. Harriet did not keep her long, and soon they were driving along the deserted front to the hotel which Jill had first noticed on her arrival.
The interior of the Marine Hotel presented much the appearance one would have expected. No doubt in the brief summer months with gay crowds of holiday-makers filling the glass-fronted verandah, resting in the armchairs in the lounge, and perched on high stools at the bar, it would have looked as hundreds of other seaside hotels in high season. Now it presented a derelict and dejected air. The few residents clustered in a group around the fire, the women busily sewing or knitting, the men buried behind their newspapers. The dining-room, to which Harriet guided her companion, was considerably more cheerful. It was obviously much patronized by the large staff of St. Joseph s and several of t h e tables were occupied by people already familiar to Jill.
“ I hope you don ’ t mind, I asked Dick to join us—you know Richard Fahr. He is operating late and has missed the seven-fifteen to London. The next train is at nine-twenty-five, so he is dropping in here for a meal first, ” Harriet explained as she passed the menu for Jill ’ s inspection. “ Anyway, we won ’ t wait for him, may as well get on with our dinner. ”
“ Mr. Fahr seemed very charming, ” Jill responded when the waiter had hastened off to the kitchen with their order. Relaxing in her chair she now glanced round at the other diners; she had seen most of them somewhere around the hospital. Jill gave a perceptible start as she recognized Dr. McRey ’ s upright figure, his table against the wall half obscured by a tall dusty palm. “ Why, there ’ s Dr. McRey over there, by the window! ” she exclaimed with obvious surprise.
“ Why not? ” Harriet queried. “ He certainly lives quite close to hospital, but when he works late he often drops in here. He is so scared of his housekeeper he daren ’ t turn up late for a meal! ”
“ Scared of his housekeeper? ” Jill echoed in amused astonishment. “ I can ’ t believe that. ”
“ You ’ d be surprised! ” .Harriet ’ s eyes twinkled humorously. “ She is a real dragon; he has met his female match there! ” She leaned forward to see round the obscuring
Later, when she was changing for her meeting with Harriet, she went over again the disturbing emotions of the afternoon. She knew that she ’ d hate to leave St. Joseph ’ s. Her dislike of Sunsand Bay was only a small issue, no seaside resort was attractive in mid-winter, but the hospital itself was the finest she had ever worked in. Her room already had an atmosphere of home, her office was comfortable—now it had been cleared of litter—and as for her ward, it was ideal, with its ample spacing, adequate cubicles, and the long windows which not only caught every hour of sunshine but led to a wide glass-protected verandah where beds could be wheeled summer or winter, providing the children with every available hour of sunshine.
Jill slipped a coat over her shoulders before closing the door behind her. Harriet was right. She ’ d be silly to allow herself to be bullied out of the best job she ’ d ever had, all these petty irritations would, no doubt, settle themselves in time. She suppressed a sigh, she sincerely hoped that time wouldn ’ t be too long delayed.
The rain had now definitely stopped, and although there was a cold nip in the air the sky was clear, and a crescent moon pierced the darkness as Jill stood at the hospital gates awaiting her friend. Harriet did not keep her long, and soon they were driving along the deserted front to the hotel which Jill had first noticed on her arrival.
The interior of the Marine Hotel presented much the appearance one would have expected. No doubt in the brief summer months with gay crowds of holiday-makers filling the glass-fronted verandah, resting in the armchairs in the lounge, and perched on high stools at the bar, it would have looked as hundreds of other seaside hotels in high season. Now it presented a derelict and dejected air. The few residents clustered in a group around the fire, the women busily sewing or knitting, the men buried behind their newspapers. The dining-room, to which Harriet guided her companion, was considerably more cheerful. It was obviously much patronized by the large staff of St. Joseph s and several of t h e tables were occupied by people already familiar to Jill.
“ I hope you don ’ t mind, I asked Dick to join us—you know Richard Fahr. He is operating late and has missed the seven-fifteen to London. The next train is at nine-twenty-five, so he is dropping in here for a meal first, ” Harriet explained as she passed the menu for Jill ’ s inspection. “ Anyway, we won ’ t wait for him, may as well get on with our dinner. ”
“ Mr. Fahr seemed very charming, ” Jill responded when the waiter had hastened off to the kitchen with their order. Relaxing in her chair she now glanced round at the other diners; she had seen most of them somewhere around the hospital. Jill gave a perceptible start as she recognized Dr. McRey ’ s upright figure, his table against the wall half obscured by a tall dusty palm. “ Why, there ’ s Dr. McRey over there, by the window! ” she exclaimed with obvious surprise.
“ Why not? ” Harriet queried. “ He certainly lives quite close to hospital, but when he works late he often drops in here. He is so scared of his housekeeper he daren ’ t turn up late for a meal! ”
“ Scared of his housekeeper? ” Jill echoed in amused astonishment. “ I can ’ t believe that. ”
“ You ’ d be surprised! ” .Harriet ’ s eyes twinkled humorously. “ She is a real dragon; he has met his female match there! ” She leaned forward to see round the obscuring
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