CHAPTER SEVEN
SALLY CLUTCHED AT the receiver, her hand cold and damp, her whole body suddenly trembling violendy. For one nightmare moment she relished a sense of gladness, and, when dlis feeling was replaced by a rush df self-disgust, , she had to lean against the wall for support. The doctor's voice came, urgent, impatient. "Are you diere. Sister? Why don't you answer me?" "I'm sorry, sir," she said stupidly, trying to collect herthoughts and answer sensibly, "I I'll come over immediately."She rang off, and dien closed her eyes weakly, too upset to move. She knew she should hurry, if only to go to the hospital and tell 'Chesfield that she could not do as he asked but she found it impossible to do more than repeat, over and over again like some monotonous chant, the horrifying words which had come into her mind during the first shock of, the news. "I am glad she is ill ... terribly ill... glad,.. glad ..." She put her hands to her face, trying to blot out those mocking words which seemed to dance before her eyes. Dear heaven, what could she do to purge herself of that unendurable truth? For a moment she, dedicated to healing, had felt a stab of gladness diat a woman was seriously ill, likdy to die. For die first time in her life she had failed in her calling, failed utterly and completely, even though only she would ever know it. She had not believed herself capable of such a diought, however transitory and her only excuse for that betrayal was her love for 119 Chesfield! What kind of love could it be then, that it could rejoice in another's suffering if that helped the ultimate result of her love? She turned away from the-phone, forcing herself to go up the stairs and into her room. She tried to collect herself, to prepare for die ordeal ahead, but she looked about dazedly, picking up a dean cap and putting it down again, staring at her dean uniform as if she did not recognize it. She couldn't do it. Of course she couldn't. Human nature could stand so much, but no more. How could Laurence ask such a thing of her? She changed hurriedly and went across to the hospital. One or two nurses greeted her as she walked quickly across the courtyard, but she neither saw them nor answered them. Inside the Main Block she went at once to the lift and then, realizing that, she must report to Trenton, since he was to operate, she turned back and went to the switchboard. "Dr. Trenton?" she asked the girl feverishly. "Do you know where he is or will you have him called for me, please?' The girl raised her eyebrows, wondering what all the commotion was about. "It's not all that exciting, Sister," she said languidly, with a familiarity bred of knowing Sally ever since she had entered Merry's on the very first day of all. "Merely an appendectomy if you're thinking of Mrs. Chesfield. Honestly, the fuss everybody is making, just because shehappens to be the wife of a doctor! Do'they have a more intense aptitude for suffering, or what? All right " as Salty moved forward, "he's up in the ante-room, waiting for you. I might tell you that the Night Sister on theatre duty isn't feeling exactly charitable towards you, right now, my pet. Taken off duty without so much as a 'by your leave,' just because Chesfield is determined that you,. and nobody else, shall help him finish off his wife!" "How dare you " The girl stared blankly at Salty, her generous lips parted in shocked surprise. Sally, aware of her own stupidity, managed a forced laugh. 120 "Well, for pity's sake," the girl said, with some annoyance. "Forgotten how to take a joke, now that you're a Sister. I never saw you get het up about anything like diat before." She turned away, adjusting her ear-phones and presumably deciding diat her conversation with Sally was ended. Sally stood a moment uncertainly, then, conscious that she had made a fool of herself, she went back to the lift and up to the theatre. In the ante-room she found Alan, performing the routine tasks of washing and being robed. He greeted her formally and then, nodding to the nurse who was helping him, he dismissed the girl and turned once again to Salty. "I don't pretend to know what all this is about," he said calmly, "but Chesfield has asked for you, and Matron didn't care to refuse. I take it you're a friend of Mrs. Chesfield?" She turned to the wash basin, consdous that she was flushing hotly. "I I've never met her," she admitted. "Alan I'll be perfectly honest with you. I I don't think I can do this. I I don't feel well " He did not answer her at once. Instead, he came to her and, putting his hands on her shoulders, turned her round to face him. Ddiberately, he put a finger beneath her chin and stared ruthlessly into her unhapy face. She tried to draw away from him, but he held her firmly, whilst his keen grey eyes stared into her pleading face. "You can do it, and you will," he told', her firmly. "It's too late to start backing out now. You don't feel ill, but your patient does. You don't have to pretend with me. Sally. But you've got to ignore the fact that dlis woman is Mrs. Chesfield, do you hear? She's just a woman who is sick desperately sick. She needs help, and you are trained and able to give her that help. Right?" "You don't understand " she began tremulously, "Alan I can't ". He stared at her, his eyes narrowed. Then, before she could realize his intention, he slapped her sharply across die face with his hand. 121 She cried out, one hand going childishly to her face. Where his hand had struck a red mark began slowly to appear, and spread. Tears filled her eyes, and she spoke his name, pitifully."Alan Alan, how could you?" she asked, shocked and shaken. He was very pale, but he did not apologize. He released bis hold on her, and turned away. "You'll be all right now. Sister," he said calmly. "Will you prepare as quickly as you can, please?" For a moment she stared at his back, dien, realizing that he had effectively arrested die hysteria which had been threatening her, she began to wash, her composure growing as she did so.When he would have left the room, she called him quietly. He turned at once, a strange look in his eyes. "Thank you," she said simply, not looking at him, "I deserved it, doctor, and needed it. I'm all right now." "Good," he said simply, but there was disappointment in his eyes. He waited until she was ready to go into the dieatre, then he said to her gently. "Even though it was necessary, I'm sorry I had to do it, Sally. But before we go in there will you promise me one thing?" "Anything if it is in my power." "Then promise me, that no matter what happens," he said slowly and carefully, "in there, or at any odier time, you'll always come to me if you need me." She met his eyes calmly enough, but she found it difficult to control her emotions. Dear Alan, she diought wistfully, if only it could have been he, and not Laurence! He was so good, so 'kind, and yet "Thank you with all my heart," she said fervently, "I promise."The operation was a fairly long one owing to complications, but when it was over Salty knew diat Trenton was fairly confident of its success. For herself, she knew an almost overwhelming relief she scarcely dared to wonder what would have been her reactions had die operation proved fatal! Would she never have been able to rid herself of a feeling of guilt, because for one second she had wanted die woman to die? 122 It was late when Salty was ready to go back to her home Mrs. Grant, she knew, would be in bed, and the small house quiet and unwelcoming. She felt unutterably tired and the thought of going back to such a house filled her with a strange foreboding. She should be used to -such loneliness, surely,, by now? Yet, somehow, she found hersdf loath to leave Merry's, to turn her back -on the dimmed lights, the air of constant vigilance and solicitude. She had had only a brief glimpse of Chesfield after the operation. He had thanked both Trentop and herself formally enough, and had then gone to see his wife. Salty had not been able to take much notice of the woman, but her brief glimpse of the patient as she was wheeled'into the. theatre was of a narrow, fine-boned face, with dark lashes spread fan-wise on the pale cheeks, and a flush of colour high on each cheekbone. In health, she had thought vaguely, the woman must be very beautiful .... Down in the main hallway she found Alan waiting for her. He greeted her quietly and, not ,for the first time of late, she thought he looked tired and ill. Impulsively she put a hand on his sleeve. "You look all in," she told him. "Why don't you so to the'night canteen and have a coffee?" "If you'll 'come with me, then I will," he said at once, 'I was waiting here to suggest just that, as a matter of fact. Come along if you're sure .it's not to late?" They went to the canteen, and for a time they sat at ' one of the small tables in silence, each busy with thoughts the other could not share. Presently, as the
coffee warmed and revived her, Sally smiled across at the doctor. "I'm glad we came," she said frankly, "I was feeling rather low, at the thought of going back to that silent house." He stared down at his coffee. "Any house can be silent if the' right person isn't in it," he said quietly. She flushed uncomfortably, realizing she was on dangerous ground. Hoping to change the subject she mentioned quite casualty that her idea of leaving the hospital, which she had previously told him about was becoming more, definite. She was considerably shaken 123 when she saw the anger and contempt in his eyes, which her remark brought forth. "So you're running away?" he said bitterly. "Good heavens just how wrong can one person be about another, Salty? And you're the 'same nurse who was eternally prating about 'no sentiment in working hours' 'work must come before all personal matters' etcetera, and etcetera, ad nauseam! Honestly, there are times when you make me sick " She pushed back her chair and stood up, her face hot with anger."Well, thank you I can soon remedy that for you,"she said'curtly. "I'll leave you at once, make no mistake about that. I wasn't aware that you had so poor an opinion of me " He laughed bitterly. "There are quite a number of things you seem unaware of," he remarked sceptically, "for instance, how long are you going to let young Janie eat out her heart?" She stared at him, frowning irritably. "Oh, stop talking in riddles," she said impatiently, "Janie must work out her own salvationjl don't even know why she's 'eating out her heart,' as you so dramatically term it. I've enough to worry about " . "That's true enough," he agreed grimly. He stood up, and faced her. "Sorry, Sally," he said tonelessty. "We just don't seem able to talk for five minutes without flying at each other's throats, do we? Call it a day or should I say night? and maybe we'll both benefit by a good night's sleep." He laughed mirthlessly as he glanced at the big dock on the wall. "What's the matter with me? Half the night's gone, anyway. Who'd be in the medical profession?" She tried to respond to his flipancy, but he gave her small chance, for he went on deliberately. "But forgive me you wouldn't give it up for anything, or anybody, would you. Sister? It holds such enormous possibilities . . . ." He turned on his heel and left her standing there, more angry than she could remember being in all her life. So angry was she, indeed, that she was half-way down the 124 stairs before she realized that neidier of them had paid for the coffee. Oh, well why worry she thought intolerantly. Offidally die coffee was free, but when Salty had occasion to use the canteen late at night she usually tipped die waitress. This time, however, she didn't even care,What exactly had Alan meant by diat hateful remark? What could he mean, if not diat so long as she was in die medical profession she could be pretty sure of being near Laurence? "Oh, it's all hateful!" she exploded violently, as she reached the main hallway. A night' nurse, hurrying through on her way to her ward, stopped short and stared at Sally in surprised amusement. . -"Good gracious I never thought I'd live to hear you say that. Sister MarthorpeJ" she cried merrily. "Matron been at you?" Sally went on home, letting herself into the silent house widi a feeling of despondency which increased as she went upstairs and into her own room. She undressed carelessly, not even stopping to hang up her uniform and when, at last, she crept wearily into bed, she lay for a time staring up at die ceiling, wondering just how long she could continue in this way. Over in die hospital, she thought hazily, Laurence would be sitting by his wife's bedside, waiting for her return to consdousness. He would probably, hold her hand as once, long ago, he had held the hand of a little girl who only prayed to die, . . . She tamed her face into the pillow and cried. Presently, when she fell into a sleep of exhaustion, the tears were wet on her cheeks, and her handkerchief was a small crumpled ball beneath her face. Salty awakened late, and breakfast was a rather hectic meal in consequence. Back at die hospital, she found time to go across to die private wards, wondering if she would be allowed to see Mrs. Chesfield. She found herself dreading the meeting, yet forced herself to go towards it, knowing diat it had to be faced sooner or later. Outside die end room she saw Alan Trenton and Laurence Chesfield, talking together. When diey saw her, diey greeted her formally, and Laurence held out his hand to her. 125 "I must thank you. Sister," he said warmly. "Doctor has been telling me you helped hire! excellently last night. Not that I had any doubt on that score, of course, but I . wanted to thank you, on behalf of my wife. She is most anxious to thank you herself, you know. Have you two minutes to spare, to meet her?" Salty drew back, in sudden panic. Then, realizing that Alan was watching her closely, she stiffened resolutely. "Thank you, doctor," she said calmly. "Actually I am not due in the Clinic for another ten minutes. I I'd like to meet your wife, if, you think she is feeling well enough?" "One scarcely has to be well to be up to receiving doctors and nurses," Laurence laughed easily, his thin face creased with amusement. "Come along. Sister Joan~ t expecting you." They went into the room together. From the bed a pair of dark blue eyes watched the two approach. "Joan I've brought Sister Marthorpe to see you," Laurence began easily. "You know about her already, of course " Salty had been expecting to meet a lovely woman, but her first impression had been hazy, easily forgotten, Now meeting Joan Chesfield face to face, she was filled with complete and bewildering surprise. But this woman was exceptionally lovely indeed, she could not remember when she had seen a more beautiful face! So taken aback was she that she turned almost instinctively to Chesfield, as if in protest. Joan Chesfield watdied Sally's expresion with a queerly indulgent smile on her lips. "Most certainly I do," she said, in a quiet voice. "I've heard you speak of her, Larry, and I've talked to her on the phone, haven't I, sister? and now, it would seem, I have to thank you for allowing me to continue living isn't that it?" Sally forced a smile to her lips. There was something about the lazy, rather mocking voice, which scared her though she could not have explained why. She felt oddly young, defenceless which was surely absurd and unreasonable? This woman was no older dian herself, and could-126 have no cause to make fun of her, -unless Sally caught her breath in quick dismay surety she could have no suspicion of the love between Sally and the doctor? But that was utterly, ridiculous. . . . "You mustn't flatter me, Mrs. Chesfield," Salty heard herself saying lightly. "Operations are just routine jobs to us, you know however unflattering that may appear to the patient herself. If you wish to thank the right per. son, then talk to Dr. Trenton. I only stood by and followed his instructions!" The woman in the bed arched her delicate brows oret tity. r "And isn't that exactly what a man most admires in any woman?" she teased softly, yet still with that extraordinary undercurrent of bitterness which so worried Sally. "I am sure my husband would be the happiest man in the world if he had a wife answering to your description. Sister wouldn't you, darling?" Sally, glancing uneasily at Laurence, saw annoyance touch his dark face momentarily, then disappear in a charming smile. "I have nothing to complain of, my dear," he said courteously, "but I'm afraid I must leave you, now no, please, Sister, don't hurry. Joan would like to talk to you for a few minutes, I'm sure. I'll be back soon, my dear. Rest as much as you can,, won't you?" "Oh, yes, doctor!" There -was open mockery in the lovely voice now, and Salty, embarrassed on her own behalf, and indignant for Larry's sake, began to wonder just why the woman found it so satisfying to make a fool of her husband in public. Evidently rumor had hit very near the truth when it suggested the Chesfields' marriage to be a very unsuccesful one. Yet why? Even as she hugged the thought of the failure of the marriage to her heart. Sally was able to pity die woman before her. "Well, Sister?" Joan's voice startled her out of her rev. erie, "what have you dedded, hm? Is it my fault, do you suppose, or his? Have you come to the conclusion, in your infinite wisdom, that the great and mighty Dr. Chesfield deserved a better bargain a the marriage market or 127 that little Joanie would have done far better if she had kept her fingers out of the medical pie?" Sally's brows contracted, and she straightened her shoulders. "Really, Mrs. Chesfield," she began coolly, "I scarcely dunk I have any right to express any opinion regarding your marriage. I work under your husband's supervision, of course, but that doesn't entitle me to wonder about his privat
e affairs " Much to her amazement the woman laughed lightly. Yet, even as she laughed, she seemed, to Sally, to be watching her with devastating keenness. "You're darned right. Sister," Joan Chesfield said gaily, "but wouldn't it be far more honest to admit that you're just as interested as everybody else in this hospital, or any Other darned place where my dear husband is known? Wouldn't you say it was one of the most enjoyable topics of conversation wherever two or three nurses, or doctors, are gathered together? How many times have you heard it said, 'But, my dear what on earth do you suppose he saw in her? She hasn't a due what medicine is all about, you know, and she honestly wouldn't know a scalpel if you showed her one! And he's so brilliant, you know the Laurence Chesfield! Poor man what a tragedy to- have a wife like that hampering your career!'" She stopped suddenly, her face paling in a startling manner. Salty, instantly on the alert, went to the bedside and picked up the delicate wrist. She pursed her lips when she had noted the exdted thready pulse, and looked anxiously at the woman's feverish face. "You're talking a lot-af nonsense, and you know it," she said gendy, all personal issues forgotten in her professional concern. "I shall ask Dr. Trenton to come and have a look at you, then I must go. You must rest, as your husband told you, Mrs. Chesfield. Your system has had a nasty shock " "My system is used to shocks," the woman said fretfully, moving her head restlessly on the pillow. "I don't want you to go. I like that doctor what's-his-name Trenton, isn't it? He's nice. He's not to be fetched specially 128 for me, though I won't have it. I'm all right. You stay with me." Salty hid her surprise at this request, and tried to reassure the woman. ; "I must go to the Clinic," she said patiently. "In any case, you're not my patient, you know, Mrs. Chesfield." She would have turned away, but a thin hand shot out and caught at her blue frock, holding it widi surprising strength. "Yes, I am," she said deliberately, and with feverish intensity, "I intend to be your patient, and nobody else's. You must come back, often please! I could talk to you. Promise you'll come?" Sally, startled to find herself trembling, managed to release herself from the woman's hand. She spoke to her quietly, reassuringly, promising to return later, then, having fetched the nurse in diarge, she went across to her own work in die Clinic, wondering how on earth such a complication as dlis had arisen. Could it be that Joan Chesfield was deliberately making a fool of her, because she suspected her to be in love widi Laurence? That was unlikely, yet, if it were not that, what posible reason was there for her supposed liking for her? She would not visit again, of course fortunately she was under no obligation to do so, and Chesfield, of all people, would not be likely to encourage such visits. She tried to forget the matter in her own work, but Janie was irritable and unreliable, and after a rather unpleasant morning Sally was onty too glad to get away from the Clinic. When she came out into the sunshine, she saw Laurence waiting for her near the car park. He hailed her eagerly, and came hurrying across to her much to the amusement of two nurses who had been chatting at the gate. Salty, conscious of their interested glances, found to her annoyance that she was blushing furiously. "There you are, Sally " he began eagerly, "I've been waiting. I didn't care to come into the Clinic, for fear I got stopped by a patient, and I haven't much time. But it's Joan my wife. She's being rather tempermental " Sally saw his face harden slightly. "There's nothing unusual about that fact, I admit but it's a bit tricky to 129 apset her in her present state. She's been. pestering me to ask you if you would look after her, I've explained that there is such a thing as hospital routine, and that the nurse in diarge of her is absolutely first-class diat is no answer as far as Joan is concerned. She " he looked at her awkwardly, and she felt a swift rush of pity for him, "she seems to have taken a fancy to you, my dear. I I know this will sound perfecdy absurd to you, but don't rush into a dedsion, for pity's sake! She wants me to ask you to come home with her, when she leaves the hospital." She stared at him dully, wondering if he was quite out of his mind. "But it's out of the question," she said at last, realizing he had finished speaking and was waiting for her to answer. "Firstly, your wife won't leave hospital until she is well, and no longer in need of a nurse. Secondly, I am running the Clinic, and cannot take on other work. Thirdly, but probably most important of all Matron wouldn't even entertain die idea, always supposing that I would!'' He half turned away, looking surprisingly dejected. She felt impatience rise in her at this fresh evidence of Joan Chesfield's selfish stupidity! Did she understand no more about her husband's profession than this? "I promised to ask you," he said slowly, "I I wish you wouldn't turn it down out of hand. Salty." He turned and looked at her, and she saw, with something approaching horror, that his eyes were filled with a desperate pleading. "There'll have to be a nurse, so why not you? Joan willwant to go home as soon as possible she hates restrictions or discipline of any kind. She has been spoilt, I'm afraid we'll have no peace until she gets her own way. I could find somebody to stand-in for you in the Clinic, if you would agree, and I know I could persuade Matron "You'd go to such lengths for that?" she blurted out, incredulously. He looked at her, dien shrugged her shoulders. "I'd go to any lengths," he admitted bitterly, "to keep her satisfied." 130 "Larry " She spoke his name softly, without thinking. She was fil. led with utter pity for him, that he should have to humil. iate himself so, just because of a spoiled petulant woman who was old enough to behave more like a wife and less like a demanding child. He turned to her at once, his eyes eager."You will come?" She frowned, annoyed by her own impetuousness. "Let's leave it -for die time being," she suggested eagerly. "After all, your wife has only met me once it is probably a whim brought about by her weakness and fever. I'm willing to wager that by the end of the week she will have forgotten me, and the whole ridiculous notion. I'll pop in and see her occasionally, of course, but I can't commit myself further than that. In any case " she smiled anxiously at his crestfallen face, "I'd scarcely like to think of somebody else running the Clinic, you know! You wouldn't-want me to give it up, would you?" "Sometimes I have thought it might be as well " he began slowly, almost as if he spoke to himself more than to her. Then, even as she drew back from him, he smiled warmly at her, his handsome face transformed. "Now I'm hurting you, Sally and that is the last thing in the world I would want to do. Forgive me, my dear I'm troubled and upset at the moment. It has all been rather a shock, you know. You're right, of course it will prove to be a passing whim of Joan's like so many other things have been. I'll see you on Thursday " But as die days passed, it became obvious, even to Salty, that Mrs. Chesfield's "whim" was something far stronger and more persistent than anyone had supposed. She did not rally from the operation as they had hoped, and there were days when she could not be pacified by anyone other dian Sally. Once they had to send for her in the night, and it was then, as she sat by the dimly lighted bed, that Sally faced up to the full realization of the incongruity of the situation. This woman, Joan Chesfield, had by some ironical stroke of Fate, decided to rely upon the one woman who of all the people in the world was least fitted to be her friend or consoler! Joan Chesfield had turned, in 131 her hour of need, to a woman who had once, for a brief flash of time, wished her dead! It was Matron herself who finally asked' Salty for a decision. "It is quite an unprecedented situation," she admitted freely, when Salty stood before her. "This Mrs. Chesfield is neurotic, obviously. At the some time we must face up tothe fact' that Mr. Chesfield is our most valued surgeon, and he has expressed a definite wish for you to go home with his wife, if only for a few days. He has gone to a lot of trouble to arrange for a friend of his, another wellknown ear, nose and throat specialist, to hold the Clinic for him during your absence. The only one who has expressed any contrary views is Dr. Trenton." Sally started. * "Dr. Trenton?" she repeated wonderingty. "But I don't see where he comes into it, Matron " "Considering Dr. Trenton has been her doctor here, I imagine he has every right to an opinion. Sister," Matron said dryly. "He considers that it would be quite wrong to encourage Mrs. Chesfield in this notion. Yet, on the other hand, we must admit that we have often, in the past, sent a
nurse home widi a patient, in special circumstances. I feel I cannot withhold my permission, in this case, provided that you agree to go." "But I haven't agreed to go " Sally began rather heatedly, "I told Mr. Chesfield, right at the beginning, that the whole idea was absurd. I I like Mrs. Chesfield, of Course, but " She knew her mistake at once, as she saw the Matron's quick frown of disapproval. "I wasn't aware that we were discussing your likes and dislikes, Sister," she said curtly. "Mrs. Chesfield is a patient, and I would prefer you to consider her as such. She is a sick woman, and she will need a nurse for a few days. The question is, will you go?" Salty begged for an hour to think over the matter, and die Matron agreed, somewhat impatiently. Out in the grounds Salty wandered about miserably, torn between her longing to go to Laurence's house, to be nearer him than ever before and her secret knowledge that to go 132 would be merely to aggravate her love for him, to make even more impossible the situation between them. It was not until she had been wandering about for almost half an hour that she realized, to her shame, that she had not once stopped to consider the patient herself! A nurse hurried across the grass towards her, calling her name."Mrs. Chesfield is asking for you," she said wearily. "Honestly, that woman will drive us all out of our minds, Sister! She's impossible " her face suddenly cleared, and she smiled reluctantly, "yet, you know, you just can't help liking her! She's such a queer mixture! Has us in stitdies one moment yet if her husband walks in, right bang in the middle of all the merriment, she collapses like a pricked balloon, ani looks for all the world like death itself! Not exactly flattering to our Laurence, of course, but " Salty, her color heightened by the nurse's disrespectful jesting, hurried across to Private Wards, and went along to Joan Chesfield's,room. This had to be stopped, once and for all, she decided grimly, Joan must be made to understand that she couldn't order the hospital staff around whenever the fancy took her. She was very well enough now to face up to the truth and the truth was that it wasn't convenient, or possible, for Sally to go home widi with her. She went into the end room and found Joan out of bed. and standing by the window. Salty, who had thought herself immune to surprise when patients got up for the first time, stared at the woman in amazement. "But but you're so small!" she said, speaking her thoughts aloud. "You look for all the world like a little girl " -Joan turned to look at her, and there was something a-bout the beautiful little face which caused Sally's heart to turn over sickeningty. "Sally =" the woman by the window spoke softly, but with a world of pleading in her voice, "don't take any notice of what the others say. I'm tired of being treated like a child who can afford to be humored, petted, talked down to. I want a straight answer to a perfectly simple 133 question. I want you to come home when I go, and look after me for about a week. Will you come, Sally, please?" Salty stood there, filled with a strange pity for the tiny figure at the window. Behind her, the door opened, and Laurence came in, looking from Sally to his wife in some surprise. Joan's face changed immediately, grew mocking, bitter. "I'm asking Sally, for the final time, to come home with me," she said with a forced brightness. "Maybe if you added your persuasions to mine, Larry, she'd come? Why don't you try?" For a mpment there was a tense silence in the small room. Sally was conscious of a burning flush on her cheeks, a frightening flutter at her heart. She dared not turn to look at Laurence, but could feel his presence and knew that he was staring at her back, waiting for her to speak. "Well go on " Joan probed deliberately, her voice filled now with undisguised mockery. "Ask her if she'll come, Larry why don't you?" Salty stiffened, her eyes fixed on the lovely, unhappy face before her. She took a deep breath, and said simply. "There's no need to say any more, either of you, I will come home with you, Mrs. Chesfield." 134
The Thursday clinic Page 9
