Nurse Saxon's Patient Read Online Free PDF Page A

please, ’ she demanded, ‘ how is he? What did he say? How much does he remember? ’
    Julie drew a deep breath. How could she give this girl the details of the two short periods of consciousness without making her think thoughts which must be hurtful and upsetting? She spoke slowly, choosing her words with care.
    ‘ He didn ’ t say very much, ’ she told the other girl. ‘ He was worried about his hands, naturally, but he accepted Mr. Greensmith ’ s word that they will eventually be all right, providing he does as he is told about the treatment. He remembers he had been at a party. He remembers you were there. ’ So much, she felt, was true ... what was it he had said ? ‘ A pretty kid with chestnut curls ...’ ‘ He didn ’ t know about being the prizewinner, but I think he was more than delighted to know he had won. He didn ’ t say much, and naturally we didn ’ t press him. Maybe by morning he will remember more, but I shouldn ’ t count on it if I were you. These cases are often slow to recover completely. By the way, Mr. Greensmith says that whatever it is that ’ s worrying you about what happened just before the accident is a matter of secondary consideration just now. In short, don ’ t mention it if Mr. Holroyd doesn ’ t. Let his memory return slowly, naturally. A good night ’ s sleep would help if he can get it, and when I left him he looked as though he would have exactly that. ’
    ‘ You ’ ll be there tomorrow, won ’ t you, Nurse? ’ Tansy asked quickly. ‘ While I ’ m there, I mean. ’
    ‘ Yes, I ’ ll be there, ’ Julie assured her, ‘ but only to watch over my patient. You must remember that he must not be agitated or upset, Miss Maitland. ’
    ‘ I won ’ t agitate him or upset him, ’ Tansy assured her equally quickly, ‘ but I just wanted to be certain you ’ d be somewhere around. I get so scared with all the others. They all appear to disapprove of me ...’
    ‘ Not really. ’ Julie smiled to herself, the girl sounded so forlorn. ‘ It ’ s just the professional manner, you know. We ’ re all like that, but we ’ re all human under the surface. ’
    ‘ The others don ’ t let anyone see below the surface, ’ Tansy countered swiftly. ‘ Anyhow, I ’ m not so scared now I know you ’ ll be there, and I ’ ll be along at two - thirty on the dot. How long will I be able to stay ?’
    ‘ An hour, if all goes well, ’ Julie told her, ‘ but if Mr. Holroyd becomes upset, if his temperature rises or his pulse begins to race, then you ’ ll have to leave. ’
    ‘ I ’ ll remember, ’ Tansy promised, ‘ and I ’ ll be as quiet as a mouse. I just wanted to know ... anything you could tell me that might help, ’ she went on, adding in a little breathless rush: ‘ You are sure he doesn ’ t remember anything about what happened just before that thing crashed into us, aren ’ t you, Nurse? ’
    ‘ Quite sure, ’ Julie said firmly, ‘ and now I must go and get some sleep myself. I ’ ll see you tomorrow, Miss Maitland, and—oh, don ’ t be upset if he doesn ’ t appear to remember who you are at first. It isn ’ t anything personal, just the result of the blow on his head. ’
    ‘ I ’ ll remember, ’ the girl said again. ‘ Thank you for ringing, and goodbye. ’
    J ulie walked thoughtfully up to her own room. Maybe it was her imagination, but it seemed to her that, after her show of anxiety concerning how much or how little Garth might remember of the events just prior to the accident, Tansy was secretly relieved to learn that so far he remembered almost nothing.
    I ’ m getting as melodramatic as she is, Julie admonished herself. Must be because I ’ m tired! With an effort she dismissed the problems of her patient and his fiancée and prepared for an early night. Somehow the emotional factors concerned with this case were extra wearing, and soon Julie found herself drifting into a slumber where dreams of the Hospital Ball—with