A Match for Sister Maggy Read Online Free PDF Page B

then.’ He gave the hand a squeeze and smiled, and she closed her eyes again, saying, ‘You’re both so enormous.’
    Just before two o’clock, Maggy’s relief arrived. She was a senior student and a very good nurse, and a very attractive one too. Maggy introduced the doctor, gave a report, said goodnight, and made for the door. The doctor, with the advantage of longer legs, got there first, opened it, and then filled the doorway with his bulk so that it was impossible for her to go through.
    â€˜I’m in your debt, Sister MacFergus,’ he looked steadily into her weary face. ‘You saved my mother’s life. You have my gratitude and my thanks.’
    â€˜And I’ll thank ye also, Doctor, for if ye hadna’ come when ye did, I ken fine it might have gone ill with your mother.’ She smiled, all six feet of her drooping with tiredness. ‘Goodnight, sir.’ She slipped past him and was gone.
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    Maggy was quite her usual self when she went on duty the next morning. She took the report and then went into Sep, Dr Doelsma rose from his chair and wished her a good morning. He looked immaculate, freshly shaven, and not a crease to be seen; his face was that of a man who hadenjoyed an untroubled night’s rest. The patient was sleeping, and according to the night nurse, entirely satisfactory. She picked up her report ready to give it, and was about to begin when Dr Doelsma coughed gently. ‘Er—shall I go, Sister, or may I stay?’ He sounded so meek that she shot him a suspicious glance before asking him politely to do as he wished. He settled back into his chair which creaked alarmingly under his weight, and opened out The Times, only lowering it briefly to wish the night nurse a warm farewell, coupled with a solicitous wish that she would sleep soundly, and all without a glance at Maggy, who had not failed to notice with an unusual flash of temper that he and the night nurse appeared to be on excellent terms. Despite herself, she gave an angry snort,
    He lowered The Times for a second time. ‘You spoke, Sister?’
    â€˜I did not,’ she snapped, and added ‘sir.’
    He folded his paper carefully, glanced at his sleeping parent and asked.
    â€˜Must I be called sir?’
    She charted the pulse carefully.
    â€˜Of course, Dr Doelsma. You are a consultant.’
    â€˜So, by the same token, I may call you Maggy?’
    She took a deep breath and said deliberately, ‘You are in a position to call me anything you wish, sir.’ She realised her mistake as soon as she had spoken.
    â€˜My dear girl, how kind of you.’ His voice was smooth. ‘I wonder, what shall it be?’
    She blushed under his mocking eye, and said with dignity, ‘That’s not what I meant, Doctor, and you know it.’ She put down the chart and went on briskly, ‘I doubt you’ll be wanting your breakfast—I’ll arrange that.’
    â€˜Don’t bother—er—Sister. Now that you’re here, I’ll goover and see Sir Charles and breakfast with him. I’ll be back within the hour.’
    â€˜Very well, sir, I’ll ring you if it should be necessary.’
    She ignored him, and prepared to take Mevrouw Doelsma’s blood pressure. Her patient opened her eyes at that moment, and said, ‘Hullo, it’s you again. I’m glad. A sweet girl, the night nurse, but so earnest, I felt as though I had one foot in the grave all night.’
    Maggy smiled and said gently. ‘Fiddlesticks, you were dreaming—and both feet are safe here in bed.’
    She turned to find Dr Doelsma still there, looming over the end of the bed.
    He said, ‘Hullo, Mama. I’m going over to Uncle Charles. Be good.’ He turned at the door, with his hand on the knob.
    â€˜You’ll ring me, won’t you, Sister?’ He sounded casual, but she could see the worry in his eyes.
    She smiled at him warmly. ‘Of