Nurse Trudie is Engaged by Marjorie Norrell Read Free Book Online Page B

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