Nurse Trudie is Engaged (6 page)

They had reached the coffee stage having discussed a variety of subjects ranging from the out-of-the-ordinary incidents that cropped up in the life of a general practitioner in a large and scattered practice such as Dr. Hislop
’
s to the legal side of the administration of the large, new extension hospital. Geoff, who had contributed little to the last two topics of conversation, looked up suddenly and spoke directly to Philip, his dark eyes alight with tense anxiety.

“
Do you ever come into contact with Miss Sinclair?
”
he asked in a clipped tone of voice as though the words were being forced from him against his will.
“
Her uncle is chairman of the board, I believe.
”

“
You mean Ursula?
”
Philip was watching the younger man with close attention.
“
We often meet,
”
he parried the question.
“
We see one another at medical functions—she usually accompanies her uncle—and sometimes she attends the monthly hospital dances. Why?
”

“
She
’
s a wonderful person, isn
’
t she?
”
Geoff countered with another question.
“
Seems to have a knowledge of what goes on and where and in connection with what in the medical field. I met her once at an Arcpo function. I
’
ve never forgotten her. She has such an intensity of purpose.
”
He gave a brief laugh.
“
She was very interested in an idea I had with regard to this new project of ours. She was certain all I had to do was explain it to the
‘
high-ups
’
to have it incorporated in the project. It
’
s what I want, of course, but I
’
m afraid I haven
’
t Miss Sinclair
’
s powers of persuasion,
”
he ended ruefully.

Watching his son, Dr. Hislop longed to explain to Philip that ever since Geoff had met her, he had dreamed of meeting Ursula Sinclair again. He had talked about her for weeks on end, until the family was tired of hearing her name, but there was little Dr. Hislop could do to help. Since his wife
’
s death he had almost entirely neglected the social side of living, burying himself in work and family to the exclusion of all else. Now he waited with hope and interest for Philip
’
s reply.

“
I
’
m sure Ursula would be glad to help,
”
Philip said now, forming an idea that might help Geoff and also Philip himself. He had formed a high opinion of the young man
’
s capabilities and knew instinctively that with the right sort of backing Geoff could possibly make a name for himself in his own field. If anyone could give that upsurge of interest, that devotion to a cause, Ursula Sinclair would be that person. If she had already shown some interest in his ideas then the rest should be easy.

Philip was under no delusions about Ursula and her feelings toward himself. Ursula was determined to marry a doctor; she had said so over and over again, and her interest in any field of healing was really genuine. If only he could bring them together: Ursula and her enthusiasm, Geoff and his ideas and brainwork!

“
Would you like to meet her again and talk about it?
”
he asked now, quietly and casually, as if the matter were of no possible importance to himself.

“
I would.
”
There was no doubt about Geoff s enthusiasm.
“
The only other person I could talk to and show my things to, without boring them to tears, was Garth.
”
The word fell like a stone into the quiet of the dining room, and as if he sensed its effect upon the others Geoff hastened to qualify his statement.
“
We all miss him,
”
he said, almost defiantly.
“
But we can
’
t just never mention his name. I miss him as much as you do!
”
He glared at his father
’
s tense, set expression and Trudie
’
s strained one, but catching the warning glance Malcolm directed upon him his tone dropped and something of the challenge went from his voice,

“
We all miss him, as I said,
”
he went on more quietly,
“
but although it wasn
’
t his field, he was always interested in what I was doing and what far-reaching effects it might have on other medical and surgical matters. I
’
d like someone to talk these things over with
... someone.
”

“
We
’
ll see what we can do,
”
Philip promised, and Dr. Hislop muttered in a low voice,
“
If only I knew just exactly what
did
happen I
’
d feel more settled
...”
But Trudie did not say a word. Philip noticed that she had gone rather white about the mouth, and her slim hand was crumbling the bread beside her plate and placing it in neat and orderly piles, as though she were in need of something to distract her thoughts.

“
How
’
s the Ellerton boy, Dad?
”
Philip shot a quick glance at Malcolm. The elder Hislop boy might not move in the medical field, but legal training or otherwise he would take a prize as a student of human nature and its needs, Philip reflected. The Ellerton boy proved an adequate distraction for Dr. Hislop, who immediately launched into a description of the boy
’
s condition since his discharge from the hospital. The case had nothing to do with Philip, for the boy had been the victim of a slight attack of polio and was now, happily, on the road to good health once more. But he had been on the verge of taking some big and final examination in his career as an accountant, and it appeared Dr. Hislop had been instrumental in allowing him to write the examination despite his handicap.

“
The fact that not only was he successful but his marks were unusually high,
”
Dr. Hislop concluded,
“
has helped him enormously. There
’
s an old saying,
‘
Nothing succeeds like success,
’
and it almost always proves true. It certainly has done in this case.
”
He pulled out his pipe and repacked it carefully.
“
Just time for this,
”
he murmured,
“
then I
’
m off on my evening rounds. Not much this evening, unless Mrs. Atkinson decides to have her baby in the wee small hours. She had all her others then, so I don
’
t expect number four will be any exception.
”

“
Since, apparently, the other three births at that hour have all been successful, and as you say,
‘
nothing succeeds like success
’
—
”
Philip remarked, and they all laughed. Their laughter was cut short by the shrilling of the office bell.

“
Someone else in trouble,
”
Geoff remarked philosophically.
“
I often wonder what folks around here would do if they had a modern young man in Dad
’
s place. They
’
ve only to say they have an unusual ache, pain or fever and off he goes, rain, hail, snow or blow.
”

“
He
’
s a good doctor,
”
Philip said seriously.
“
Very painstaking, very thorough.
”

“
And wearing himself out very thoroughly, too,
”
Geoff said crisply.
“
I wonder if there
’
s anything I can do.
”

There was, it appeared. Dr. Hislop came bustling back from investigating, calling over his shoulder to someone to
“
Come in, please, and close the door.
”
A tall, uniformed figure of a young constable followed him, nodding a courteous
“
good evening
”
to the company.

“
Seems young Miller had an accident on that motorcycle of his around Harper
’
s Bend,
”
the doctor announced briefly.
“
I knew he would before very long. He doesn
’
t speed, thank goodness, but he has no more idea of how to take that vehicle around a bend than a child of three would have. Constable Fletcher says he isn
’
t badly hurt, but I
’
ll have a look at him here before we decide what to do. Will you drive me there, Geoff, please? It
’
s only a matter of minutes, and an extra pair of hands may be useful.
”

Malcolm waited until they had left the room, then smiled down at Trudie and Philip, seated side by side now on the low sofa.

“
Young Miller
’
s one of Dad
’
s babies,
”
he explained.
“
He appears to remember every one he
’
s ever brought into this world and to take a personal interest in each one. Don
’
t know how he does it.
”

“
Isn
’
t Constable Fletcher the one with the masses of certificates and what-have-you from the St. John Ambulance people?
”
Trudie inquired.
“
If he is then I should say he
’
s made a fairly accurate assessment of the situation.
”

“
He
’
s the one,
”
Malcolm nodded.
“
And a good chap, too.
”

“
His sister
’
s nursing at St. Catherine
’
s,
”
Trudie added. Philip looked at her, startled, realizing how much this family knew and cared about the people whom they moved and worked among. How differently he had looked at life so far, he reflected humbly. He had considered it quite enough to do his own job to the best of his powers and leave the rest of whatever worried people to others. How many lessons he was learning from this happy, united family, without being obviously taught.

“
All of them must have better memories than I have at present,
”
Malcolm observed ruefully. He had been searching his pockets for his lighter and had pulled out an envelope that he was now staring at with a concentrated look of disgust.
“
Mr. Rogerson especially asked me to mail this for him tonight,
”
he remarked.
“
The office mail had gone and I said I
’
d slip it into our collection here on my way home. Dad, could have popped it in for me. They have to pass the mail box in Spring Lane on their way to Harper
’
s Bend. It might be too late by the time they return. If you
’
ll excuse me I
’
ll slip out and mail it now. I gathered it was of some importance.
”

Left alone, Philip looked at Trudie, wondering how and where he could begin to say what he was feeling, but before he could frame the words there was the sound of a car outside. A moment or so later Dr. Hislop strode into the room.

“
Nothing to worry about,
”
he informed them, taking their interest in the Miller boy for granted.
“
I
’
ve brought him back here. Now
Geoff’s
taking the motorcycle to the police station for examination. I
’
ll be back soon,
”
he promised over his shoulder and disappeared, presumably to patch up whatever
“
young Miller
”
had done to himself.

“
Is it often like this at The Cedars?
”
Philip surprised himself by the question, but it was something he really wanted to know. Trudie smiled.