Nurse in Waiting Read Online Free PDF Page B

his doctor’s that his trouble was ‘psychological as much as physical’. That might mean anything. And as Joanna knew only too well, a sick mind could hinder a sick body indefinitely.
    She was glad when her hostess changed the subject by asking her ward how she had fared at Naas market.
    “Well enough,” returned the girl listlessly. “I think I remembered everything I went for. And I’ve sold Bambino’s next litter.”
    “You have, so? That’s grand news. And how much did you spend with Mikey Mo on the strength of it?” teased Mrs. Carnehill.
    “Not too much. But I didn’t get anything.” From Shuan’s eyes flashed a note of warning which J oanna took to mean that the elusive powder-bowl was not to be mentioned, and J oanna reflected that the girl was as vulnerable and as single-minded as a child. Her reaction to Roger’s ill-timed piece of mischief had been a childishly defensive one, and so too had been her sharp lift of the head at Mrs. Carnehill’s innocent suggestion that Roger needed someone ‘fresh and young’ about him. And now even the gift which had not materialized was to be kept a secret.
    “I believe we can like each other, she and I,” thought Joanna. “After all, it isn’t her fault that we stepped off on the wrong foot almost as soon as we met!”
    Mrs. Carnehill was teasing: “I can’t think why you bother with that black thief of a Mikey! Couldn’t you buy in a shop, for the price of one of his quoit - rings, all the rubbish on his stall?”
    “Not in Naas,” objected Shuan quickly. “Nor in Tulleen. Now and then he has lovely things!”
    “Well, in Dublin then?”
    “But I hardly ever get to Dublin! I haven’t been since —” Shuan stopped and threw a swift glance in Joanna’s direction.
    “You mean—since you chose the furnishing for Joanna’s room? Why, neither you have.” Mrs. Carnehill turned to Joanna. “Did you like your room? Do you know, Shuan arranged it all herself?”
    “I thought it charming,” said Joanna quietly. And again found herself puzzled by this new facet to Shuan. She could consider a trinket on a quoits-stall “lovely”, and yet she had maturity enough to furnish a room in quiet good taste. What an odd mixture the girl was!
    “You’ll have to go to Dublin,” Mrs. Carnehill went on, turning to Joanna . “Justin would take you both in his c a r one day. I wonder what you’ll think of the city?” she added. “We love it, of course. But people from England usually consider it dirty and slovenly, compared with English cities or even with Belfast. I admit that its slums are rather in evidence —”
    “Are they?” asked Joanna interestedly.
    “I’m afraid so. Streets of fine Georgian mansions have become slums, and only within a hundred yards or so of O’Connell Street, bless its heart!”
    They compared cities during the rest of the meal. Then Mrs. Carnehill announced that she was going to spend an hour with Roger.
    When she had gone Shuan said ungraciously:
    “You didn’t say anything about the powder-bowl to Mums?”
    “No. I didn’t think you wanted me to ,” said Joanna gently. “You didn’t, did you?”
    “No, I didn’t.” Then, as if ashamed of having entered into alliance with Joanna even by so much as a glance, she added with assumed carelessness: “Not particularly, that is. But it didn’t matter really. If it’s still there, I dare say I can get it for her next week.”
    “I hope you will,” Joanna assured her. But to that there was no reply, so after a minute or two’s silence she tried again.
    “Do you know, I admired my room directly I saw it? I remember wondering who had arranged it for me. That particular shade of green is awfully restful.”
    There was a pause. Then Shuan said sullenly: “You don’t have to be polite about it, you know.”
    Taken aback, Joanna still managed to reply gently: “You mean—you didn’t do it for me personally, so that there’s no need for me to pretend I like it if I