New Doctor at Northmoor Read Online Free PDF Page A

his apparent preference for his son, which always made him go out to the gate to meet him, was not inspired by love, but by fear. He was always afraid to hear that Laurence had been kicked out of his hospital, or that something else had gone wrong, and he always felt he wanted to be first to be on the spot, to hear it, private and personal.
    ‘ You haven ’ t ?’ he began, but Laurence cut him short.
    He seemed bigger, more beefy, Gwenny thought faintly. Well, different, somehow, from last time. Not different for the better, either. A little more belligerent, perhaps? She couldn ’ t put a name to it.
    She heard Laurence say shortly to her father, ‘ Just a couple of days off—swapped with Tennant. Wanted to come home and talk something over with you. ’
    The two men came in. Gwenny faded backwards into the breakfast-room and thought about it. It was disquieting to find that Laurence even wanted to come home for a talk with his father. What had gone wrong ?
    Mrs. Kinglake was talking about her meeting that day. ‘ The most awful thing ’ s happened, ’ she began.
    Gwenny waited for it, and it came.
    ‘ That wretched estate agent knew perfectly well that we wanted Fairmead and why, but he ’ s let it go! Over our heads !’
    There was a chorus of angry protest. Dr. Kinglake felt as strongly as his wife about the need for an old people ’ s home in the district, and if he didn ’ t like her methods of going about getting it, he said nothing. He himself had made application through the usual channels and knew it would have to be a private affair at the moment as the authorities weren ’ t willing to stump up for a home under their auspices. Whether it was through lack of money or unwillingness to part with what they had, he didn ’ t know, but they had said loud and clear that they didn ’ t consider there was sufficient need for one. Those local council meetings had been noisy and revealing, but he knew when they were final. And Ancaster wasn ’ t getting any younger.
    That was his greatest worry. Ancaster was a patient of his and he alone knew how much longer they could hope for the owner of old Mrs. Yeedon ’ s cottage to hang out. Old Mrs. Yeedon, and others like her, would be put out to .an estate, to manage by themselves in unfamiliar surroundings when Ancaster ’ s life came to an end, because too many people had already had greedy eyes on his land. It would be developed, and Mrs. Yeedon and old women like her would have to go. It was a real anxiety.
    ‘ And it isn ’ t going to be an old people ’ s home !’ Mrs. Kinglake announced, coming to the best bit last. She was so angry and frustrated that she could hardly get it out. ‘ I don ’ t know how it could have happened. I wouldn ’ t have thought anyone would have the money to run it as a private home. ’
    ‘ It ’ ll need masses of money to put it right, ’ Laurence commented. ‘ You must have got it wrong, Mother. It ’ s some ghastly person wanting to pull the place down and develop it! ’ and Gwenny heard them troop into the dining-room.
    ‘ Much more likely, ’ the doctor commented.
    They were sitting down round the table in the dining room to what was called ‘ late Wednesday supper ‘ , when there was no surgery and the doctor could, with luck, enjoy a meal in peace with his family. It rarely worked out without interruption, but there was always hope.
    Gwenny, having no excuse to stay out of their way any longer, slid into the room, and quietly took her place. ‘ Who the devil can it be, buying it? ’ her father fumed. ‘ I have a good mind to ring up the estate agent—now !’
    ‘ He ’ ll be closed ,’ said Mrs. Kinglake, serving watery boiled potatoes from the old-fashioned vegetable dish.
    ‘ At his home ,’ the doctor said shortly.
    Gwenny was moved to protest. If he got on to the telephone, the meal would be delayed and there would be more trouble. She felt she couldn ’ t stand it. Without thinking, she said,