Ring for the Nurse Read Online Free PDF Page A

replied with her customary calm. “ Can you imagine it? He is difficult enough to please when he is fit, can you think what he ’ ll be like ill? He ’ ll be ticking you off and criticizing everything you do. Heaven help you! ”
    Felicity relaxed as she turned back to the mirror and arranged the small tendrils of hair which peeped from beneath her cap. Just enough to be becoming but not enough to attract Sister ’ s notice. “ Perhaps it would be as bad as you think ... maybe he will be moved to another ward. Oh, I don ’ t know, but it ’ s no use worrying before we really know. ” Felicity spoke with considerably more confidence than she was feeling.
    “ There is another thing, I really must tell you ” —Diana broke off to glance at Felicity ’ s bedside clock— “ yes ... we ’ ve just a moment, then we ’ ll have to rush. She leaned forward in her seat and continued in almost conspiratorial tones. “ You know how reticent Brenton has always been about his personal affairs, none of the staff appear to know anything about him. Well, it seems he is engaged to be married, at least Miss Kent said his fiancé e was in the car with him, she was brought along to Out Patients last night with Brenton; she was discharged O.K., only, a few scratches. Molly Kent says she is a smasher — mink coat type and terribly smart. Seems like our friend Brenton is a good picker although the contemptuous indifference with which he treats us poor nurses made me think that the weaker sex was entirely beneath his notice! ”
    “ Maybe we lack glamour, ” Felicity suggested, but her thoughts were preoccupied by the news of the accident and the fact that Guy Brenton should be engaged. Some girl then must have found a different and sympathetic side to his nature; she felt intrigued to know what kind of girl this was who had managed to pierce that apparently impenetrable armour.
    “ Lack glamour! ” Diana echoed derisively. “ Some may, but I know plenty who don ’ t. ” She glanced meaningly at her friend, then added. “ Come on, hurry up, we must get down to breakfast. ”
    As the two girls threaded their way between the long tables already set for the morning meal, Felicity ’ s thoughts were still in a turmoil. The whole tale of the accident and its outcome still seemed unreal and from the quiet demeanour of the few nurses scattered in various groups at the tables, it was obvious that Diana was right and the news was not as yet generally known. She swallowed her food hurriedly, then rising from the table pushed back her chair. “ I ’ ll be getting along, I may see you later. I believe we ’ ve got a couple of ‘ op ’ cases this morning so I expect I ’ ll be bringing them down. ”
    “ Well, slip into Theatre Sister ’ s office for some coffee at eleven, I shall expect to hear all the latest then. ”
    With a mu r mured promise, Felicity walked across the expanse of the dining hall and let the glass doors swing shut behind her. She nodded a mechanical greeting to the nurses who passed her as she made her way down the long corridors leading to John Mason Ward. Glancing at the electric clock on the wall she hurried her steps, it was getting late and she had wanted particularly to be in good time this morning, there were so many odd jobs to see to. Yesterday ’ s emergency must have that extension adjusted, there was John Brigg ’ s plaster to be cut ... and oh, yes, number three must have his d ressing changed before Brenton ’ s round at ten. She mentally enumerated the items, then stopped with a smothered gasp. Guy Brenton wouldn ’ t be making his round at ten! The thought was incredibly disturbing, some other surgeon would no doubt take his place but the idea gave no actual sense of compensation.
    From her position outside the Sister ’ s office, Felicity could see one or two probationers on duty; the cleaners too, were already on the ward. Night staff had gone and the day ’ s work was beginning.