New Doctor at Northmoor Read Online Free PDF Page B

Which house? It can ’ t be true, can it? ’
    The doctor returned and looked thoughtfully at the faces of his family, and at Mrs. Otts who was hurrying back so fast with Priscilla ’ s soup that she was slopping it over the side as she came.
    ‘ It might just be, ’ Laurence said grimly. ‘ Gwenny ’ s seen him. What ’ s he look like, Gwenny? ’
    She was shaking. She heard herself say, ‘ Very tall and strong and he puts my back up. Very dark, and he ’ s so right in everything he says and does ...’
    ‘ That ’ s him! ’ Priscilla said indignantly. ‘ That ’ s Mark Bayfield all right! Oh, no, why doesn ’ t someone stop him? ’
    ‘ I gather it ’ s too late, ’ the doctor remarked. ‘I hear he told Gwenny he ’ s on the verge of moving in. ’

 
    CHAPTER III
    The thing that struck Gwenny most was that they were all in accord, for once. A tight little family circle, and Mrs. Otts ranged herself on the side of the family.
    ‘ Why should he do this to us? ’ Mrs. Kinglake wailed. ‘ After all the work I ’ ve put in on those committees ‘
    ‘ To say nothing of the wear and tear on our nerves ,’ Dr. Kinglake muttered. ‘ Besides, we were here first. We needed that place .’
    ‘ There ’ s something behind it ,’ Priscilla said darkly. ‘ I don ’ t trust him. How could he have known about Fairmead? And how did he know that child? ’ and she turned accusingly towards Gwenny.
    ‘ Does it matter about him taking over Fairmead? ’ Gwenny asked faintly. ‘ I mean, supposing Mummy could find another place for the old people ’ s home, would we mind about him being there? ’
    ‘ You don ’ t know what he ’ s like, ’ Priscilla stormed. ‘ He ’ s mean. He ’ s a bully. He ’ s the most awful man I ’ ve ever come across! ’
    ‘ Well, I don ’ t know that I ’ d go so far as that ,’ Laurence put in, looking rather worried.
    ‘ He stopped you getting that job at Northmoor, didn ’ t he? ’ Priscilla asked coldly.
    Laurence reddened. ‘ Well, we don ’ t know for sure, but as he ’ s got it himself, I suppose it ’ s a fair bet. It seems so darned mean because I needed a job near home — at least, I wanted a job near home—and he doesn ’ t need to be in this district at all. ’
    ‘ Is that what he ’ s done? ’ Gwenny asked, in a small voice . ‘ Nipped in and got a job that you wanted, Laurence ?’
    Laurence hesitated. ‘ I think (and this isn ’ t for repeating, half-pint, mind!) I think he put a spoke in my wheel somehow. I just wish I knew how, that ’ s all, considering all appointments go up before the Board. I just wish I knew what influence that Mark Bayfield has got. ’
    ‘ I still haven ’ t heard, ’ Priscilla insisted, ‘ how that child came to know him. ’
    They all looked at Gwenny. Dr. Kinglake said suddenly, ‘ You ’ re not a good colour, my girl. Let me feel your forehead. ’
    ‘ Oh, don ’ t fuss, Daddy, ’ she said, stumbling to her feet. ‘ I ’ ve eaten too much chocolate. It always makes me feel sick, but I can ’ t resist it. ’
    That was an infallible remedy for making him stop wanting to take her temperature and get out his stethoscope. He had a bee in his bonnet about chocolate, and as a child, Gwenny ’ s first recollections had included his shouting that he would like to ban the manufacture of chocolate and that all children should eat boiled sweets. Gwenny escaped to her room.
    Priscilla had three days off. The main thing about Priscilla ’ s return home was the noise. Priscilla couldn ’ t open or close a drawer without making a determined clonk, and there never was a door in the house that wasn ’ t continually banging. Mrs. Otts was in a bad temper all the time, the bathroom was always in a mess and smelling overpoweringly of Priscilla ’ s perfume and bath salts, and constant friction occurred because Priscilla was always on the telephone.
    ‘ Heavens above, girl, don ’ t you know better than to do