Read Online To Please the Doctor by Marjorie Moore - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marjorie Moore
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palm. “ He seems to have reached the coffee stage; anyway, I won ’ t ask him over, we ’ ll have these few minutes to ourselves before Dick arrives. ”
Jill was certainly relieved at that decision. She had quite enough of Duncan McRey ’ s company without seeking it in off-duty hours. “ What sort of a house has he? ” she found herself asking, more to make conversation than out of real interest.
It could be nice, ” Harriet conceded. “ Anyway, there isn ’ t much choice round here unless you live a few miles out . His housekeeper is bone lazy and doesn ’ t take any trouble with the place. ” Harriet paused as the waiter set the dishes on the table. “ One day I hope Duncan will get a wife to look after him and give him the home comforts he has never had. ”
Jill couldn ’ t help laughing. “ Harriet, dear, you sound so maternal, so concerned, too. I can ’ t picture Duncan McRey all domestic in house slippers with some loving little wife sharing his fireside! ”
“ You are wrong. ” Harriet spoke with sincerity. “ Duncan works at hospital all hours of the day, and some hours of the night, too; in his leisure time he is compiling a book on children ’ s diseases. He has worked unsparingly all his life — he hasn ’ t had money behind him, and has had to struggle all the way. He could relax now, he has succeeded, and its time he reaped some benefit. Underneath that hard exterior he is considerate, almost gentle, and I envy the girl he chooses to share his life. ”
“ Goodness! Y ou ’ re serious. ” Jill laughed lightheartedly. “ He may be all you say, and admittedly he does show you a certain amount of respect and consideration, but I believe that women as such don ’ t exist for him. As a sex, I ’ m sure h e regards us n urses as a uniformed race, necessary components to the running of a hospital, and divided into two groups, the efficient and the fools. Obviously he has no time for the latter group, in which category he has placed me. ” There was a hint of bitterness in Jill ’ s tone. “ Now you are trying to tell me that there are hidden depths to his nature which I haven ’ t yet discovered! ”
“I know there are. ” Harriet spoke with deep conviction, then deliberately changed the conversation. “ Dick is late , he ’ ll miss the last train if he isn ’ t careful. ”
For the next ten minutes the conversation took a more conventional turn, and Harriet encouraged Jill to speak of her own affairs. She was interested to hear of her home life, and how her mother ’ s remarriage to Sir Trevor Hallard had turned out.
“ They are very happy, ” Jill assured her. “ Trevor is really a dear; in fact, they are an ideal couple with lots of tastes in common. You know I have a step-brother now. ” Jill ’ s eyes filled with affection as she spoke. “ Terry is an adorable child, full of mischief and a real sport; he loves being in the country, so they spend most of their time at Brent Towers and rarely use the town flat. Nana, of course, is in her element at having the old nurseries in use again. ”
“ Does Lady Hallard still object to your nursing? ” Harriet asked. “ She was very much against it, wasn ’ t she? ”
“ She ’ ll always hate the idea. I shall never make her understand that I really love it, she is most emphatic on the subject, and can ’ t imagine why I don ’ t live a life of leisure, ” Jill laughed.
“ It seems silly to worry about it, you ’ ll give up one day—when the right man comes along. ’ Harriet ’ s eyes twinkled. “ I presume he hasn ’ t turned up yet, but you know I feel that marriage should be every girl ’ s real ambition. ”
“ You are a nice one to talk! ” Jill scoffed. “ I can ’ t see you giving up medicine for any man. Why, it ’ s your whole life.”
“Maybe I’ll surprise you one day,” Harriet spoke with a hint of underlying meaning. “No woman is entirely invul n erable.”
“I suppose
Jill was certainly relieved at that decision. She had quite enough of Duncan McRey ’ s company without seeking it in off-duty hours. “ What sort of a house has he? ” she found herself asking, more to make conversation than out of real interest.
It could be nice, ” Harriet conceded. “ Anyway, there isn ’ t much choice round here unless you live a few miles out . His housekeeper is bone lazy and doesn ’ t take any trouble with the place. ” Harriet paused as the waiter set the dishes on the table. “ One day I hope Duncan will get a wife to look after him and give him the home comforts he has never had. ”
Jill couldn ’ t help laughing. “ Harriet, dear, you sound so maternal, so concerned, too. I can ’ t picture Duncan McRey all domestic in house slippers with some loving little wife sharing his fireside! ”
“ You are wrong. ” Harriet spoke with sincerity. “ Duncan works at hospital all hours of the day, and some hours of the night, too; in his leisure time he is compiling a book on children ’ s diseases. He has worked unsparingly all his life — he hasn ’ t had money behind him, and has had to struggle all the way. He could relax now, he has succeeded, and its time he reaped some benefit. Underneath that hard exterior he is considerate, almost gentle, and I envy the girl he chooses to share his life. ”
“ Goodness! Y ou ’ re serious. ” Jill laughed lightheartedly. “ He may be all you say, and admittedly he does show you a certain amount of respect and consideration, but I believe that women as such don ’ t exist for him. As a sex, I ’ m sure h e regards us n urses as a uniformed race, necessary components to the running of a hospital, and divided into two groups, the efficient and the fools. Obviously he has no time for the latter group, in which category he has placed me. ” There was a hint of bitterness in Jill ’ s tone. “ Now you are trying to tell me that there are hidden depths to his nature which I haven ’ t yet discovered! ”
“I know there are. ” Harriet spoke with deep conviction, then deliberately changed the conversation. “ Dick is late , he ’ ll miss the last train if he isn ’ t careful. ”
For the next ten minutes the conversation took a more conventional turn, and Harriet encouraged Jill to speak of her own affairs. She was interested to hear of her home life, and how her mother ’ s remarriage to Sir Trevor Hallard had turned out.
“ They are very happy, ” Jill assured her. “ Trevor is really a dear; in fact, they are an ideal couple with lots of tastes in common. You know I have a step-brother now. ” Jill ’ s eyes filled with affection as she spoke. “ Terry is an adorable child, full of mischief and a real sport; he loves being in the country, so they spend most of their time at Brent Towers and rarely use the town flat. Nana, of course, is in her element at having the old nurseries in use again. ”
“ Does Lady Hallard still object to your nursing? ” Harriet asked. “ She was very much against it, wasn ’ t she? ”
“ She ’ ll always hate the idea. I shall never make her understand that I really love it, she is most emphatic on the subject, and can ’ t imagine why I don ’ t live a life of leisure, ” Jill laughed.
“ It seems silly to worry about it, you ’ ll give up one day—when the right man comes along. ’ Harriet ’ s eyes twinkled. “ I presume he hasn ’ t turned up yet, but you know I feel that marriage should be every girl ’ s real ambition. ”
“ You are a nice one to talk! ” Jill scoffed. “ I can ’ t see you giving up medicine for any man. Why, it ’ s your whole life.”
“Maybe I’ll surprise you one day,” Harriet spoke with a hint of underlying meaning. “No woman is entirely invul n erable.”
“I suppose
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