Love for the Matron Read Online Free PDF Page B

a sort of dignity that made you feel polite inside even when you weren ’ t very often.” Susan squeezed Elizabeth ’ s arm very gently. “I expect we ’ d better call you Miss Graham until we know you, hadn ’ t we? After all, you are the Matron of St. Genevieve ’ s now, aren ’ t you ? Funny how we always thought Miss Brown would go on for ever. We knew she wasn ’ t well, of course, but she never let you be aware of it. When the pain got bad she would go sort of quiet and you knew then not to interrupt her and you ’ d wait until she started talking and you felt she was all right.
    “Here we are,” she went on. “Mind the step. Daddy says it took centuries to wear it that shape and he wouldn ’ t presume to level off the mark made by better men than he. I hope you don ’ t mind my bringing you in the back way. It ’ s quicker, even if it ’ s not so tidy. Dear Emily never gets round to it ... she says me and Robin would only mess it up again.
    “Trust him to skip off instead of coming and doing the honors,” said Susan crossly. “He ’ s six foot tall and shy and bashful and dark and handsome and I ’ m never quite sure whether he knows he is, and yet he must ... He looks in the mirror when he shaves—which isn ’ t very often, in spite of the fact that dark-haired men are supposed to have heavy beards; but perhaps that ’ s only when they ’ re older and Robin ’ s just turned nineteen. Just a minute while I turn on the light and then I can see you.”
    Elizabeth stood patiently while Susan fumbled for an unseen switch. Then the hall was flooded with light and she saw her guide for the first time, Susan was tall and slim, and a mass of red curls tumbled around her still childish face, but her father ’ s hazel eyes were set beneath well - marked brows and it was her father ’ s sensitive mouth that curved into a smile of admiration.
    “ Are you really a Matron? You look too young and pretty for that.”
    “It ’ s the experience that counts, Susan,” said William Gregory ’ s amused voice from behind them. “Must you bring our honored guest through the nether regions? Good evening, Miss Graham. I must apologize for my daughter ’ s shortcomings.”
    Elizabeth sensed rather than saw the girl ’ s hurt withdrawal. “It was much quicker this way, Doctor Gregory, and Susan has looked after me very well,” she explained.
    “Take Miss Graham up to the guest room, Susan, to leave her coat, and you might run a comb through those elfin locks while you ’ re at it. Where ’ s Robin?”
    Susan moved her feet restlessly. “I thought he had come in. Maybe he ’ s gone, into his workshop or something.”
    “When you ’ ve brought Miss Graham down to the library you might round him up. Dear Emily has planned dinner for a quarter to eight and we don ’ t want her fussing.” He turned back to Elizabeth “You must forgive all this domestic detail.”
    “I ’ m afraid I ’ m enjoying it. It ’ s the one thing you miss about hospital life,” she reassured him.
    Susan led Elizabeth up a wide curving staircase at a speed that gave her little time to more than glance at the attractive collection of etchings that lined the staircase wall. Susan opened a door and turned on the light.
    “Do you want a hanger for your coat or will you just lie it on the bed ? I do like your dress ... it makes your eyes look just like brown velvet. I know you ’ re not supposed to make personal remarks, but I hope you don ’ t mind my telling you. Oh, and thanks for standing up for me with Daddy . He tries so hard to do his best for us and by us, and he really hasn ’ t got a clue, poor dear, but we love him and try not to let him know that we know it.”
    Elizabeth laughed. “I suppose it ’ s telling tales out of school, but I think he does know.”
    Susan looked startled for a moment. “Oh dear! Well, it can ’ t be helped. I ’ d better take you down and then hunt for Robin. He ’ s a stinker if he