A Match for Sister Maggy by Betty Neels Read Free Book Online Page A

‘I’m off on my round.’
    As she went she told herself that it was her own fault anyway that she hadn’t been on duty. Staff had said that he was coming again on the following Sunday—it was her free weekend in any case. The thought put her in mind of the amount of work she had to do, and she resolutely put all thoughts of the doctor out of her mind.
    When she got to Mrs Salt’s bed, she found that old lady in a gossiping mood.
    â€˜Yer missed ’im,’ she informed Maggy. ‘And now it’s yer weekend, ain’t it, love, so yer won’t see ’im then either. But I ’eard ’im asking Staff if you was on duty next Thursday evening, and she said Yes, and ’e says Good, I’ll be along then. So you’ll see ’im then.’
    Maggy straightened a pillow. ‘Is that so, Mrs Salt? And I’ve just remembered that I’ll have to change my off duty on Thursday. Isn’t that a pity?’
    She turned to the next bed, and found Madame Riveau sitting up in a chair. She would be going home very soon now, but she looked ill and spiritless. Maggy eyed her swollen jaws but remained silent. It was to be hoped that the woman would go to her own dentist as soon as she got home. She asked a few questions of her, but her answers were surly and unwilling, so she left her and went on down the ward and finally into Sep.
    Mevrouw Doelsma smiled at her from her pillows, and Maggy thought how pretty she was now that she was better and had some colour in her cheeks, and a faint sparkle in her eyes.
    â€˜Maggy, Paul missed you yesterday. He expected you to be on duty.’ Maggy went across the room and adjusted the blind, then said, with her back to her patient,
    â€˜I changed my off-duty at the last minute.’ She smiled over her shoulder.
    â€˜And you won’t be here tomorrow either?’
    â€˜No, it’s my weekend, but Staff is very efficient…’
    Mevrouw Doelsma looked at Maggy’s rather nice back view. ‘I wouldn’t dream of asking you to lose a minute of your free time, but I’m selfish enough to like you here all the time. Oh well, he’ll be over again on Thursday. You’ll be here then, won’t you?’
    Maggy hesitated; she didn’t like telling lies. ‘Well, I usually am.’ She achieved the half truth, feeling guilty.
    She spent the weekend trying to think of a good excuse for changing her evening off. It was nothing short of a miracle that Williams should come to her during Monday and ask if she could possibly have Wednesday eveningfree. Maggy breathed a sigh of relief and, taking care not to appear too pleased, agreed.
    Wednesday evening was fairly quiet. She did the medicine round and started the report before going to supper, and when she came back went to see Mevrouw Doelsma, who was sitting up in bed, ready for someone to talk to. She looked rather excited, Maggy thought, as she tidied her pillows, she supposed that she was pleased because she was making such good progress. Another two weeks and there would be talk of her going home. It was almost eight-thirty. She switched off the ceiling light, leaving the little bedside lamp burning, and went to the door and opened it, then turned round again to say,
    â€˜I’m going to give the report, Mevrouw Doelsma. Ring if you want anything; I’ll be in to say goodnight later.’ She stepped backwards on to a foot, and didn’t need to hear the chuckle above her left ear to know whose it was. A very large gentle hand clipped her round the waist.
    â€˜And do you number me among your enemies that you trample me so ruthlessly under foot? At best a poor way of greeting me after almost two weeks!’
    She stood within the circle of his arm, fighting to breathe normally.
    â€˜Ye ken well you’re no enemy of mine, Dr Doelsma—and I didna’ expect ye.’
    He dropped his arm and she turned to face him with what dignity she