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ward, she was immediately summoned to Sister's office, where Sister Noakes eyed her crossly. Anna's heart lurched as she met the cool gaze of Rick Alexandre, who was perched on a corner of Sister's desk, long legs swinging idly. He, too, appeared cross.
    'Nurse Curtis,' Sister began, sharply, 'if you had some objection to working a split today why didn't you come to see me?'
    Anna opened her mouth, but Sister waved her to silence. 'I have,' she continued, her scarlet mouth set, 'been taken to task by Mrs Lucas. She told me that no matter how short we are, first and second-years are not to do split duties. Except in emergency, of course. Unless . . .' She paused, and gazed reprovingly at Anna, who by now was beginning to see the light. Someone had obviously complained to Mrs Lucas, the Principal Nursing Officer (Education), and it didn't take much thought to work out who was the culprit.
    'Unless,' Sister went on, 'the student agrees and provided it is only an occasional split duty. I was under the impression that you did agree, Nurse.'
    'I did, Sister. Really. I could understand that you wanted your trained staff for Dr Tester's round, so I didn't mind,' Anna assured her. Sister raised her heavily-pencilled brows.
    'Why, then, did you go behind my back and complain?'
    'I did not, Sister. I. . . I happened to mention my split duty to someone else in my set and word of it must have got back to one of the tutors,' Anna explained hesitantly, not wanting to get Sheila or Bryan into trouble but not wanting to be in Sister's bad books, either.
    'I see,' Sister said, doubtfully. Then she glanced at Dr Alexandre, who shrugged.
    'The grapevine works quickly here. Or so I've found,' he said wryly. 'Even crediting me with a fiancée I haven't got!'
    Sister laughed, good-humour restored, then told Anna she could go. Surprised and rather cross, Anna left, still wondering if Sister believed her. She was pleased to hear that the registrar wasn't engaged, anyway!
    The evening hours were not long enough for everything that had to be done, Anna found. Ruth Barratt was on, she was glad to see, feeling that she had found a friend in the cheery nursing auxiliary.
    'Mr Pearson has been moaning again, Anna,' Ruth said, chuckling. 'He's lost his lower set now, he claims. Says one of the nurses must have mislaid it.'
    'That isn't true! He hides his dentures under the pillow, then complains when we put them in his locker!' Anna protested. 'I don't know why he doesn't wear them.'
    'They don't fit, that's why. My father doesn't wear his dentures very often,' Ruth confided, keeping step with Anna as they walked down the ward. 'If people don't wear them for a long while then suddenly decide they will, often the dentures don't fit any more. The face changes shape without teeth to support it, as you know. Eventually the dentures seem too big and people go to their dentists, complaining that their false teeth don't fit their mouth any more!'
    'It's their own fault for not wearing them regularly,' Anna agreed, wondering how she would cope if ever she had artificial teeth. It was something she didn't care to think about just yet!
    Mr Pearson, of course, blamed Anna for losing his lower dentures. Although a miserable, unhappy man at the best of times, he seemed to take a special delight in annoying Anna, and took every opportunity he could to complain about her. As this was only her third day on the ward, she wondered ruefully what she'd done to deserve such treatment.
    'You big 'uns are all alike,' Mr Pearson grumbled, as Anna patiently turned out his locker for him, but without success.
    'I can't help being tall,' she pointed out, kindly. 'I'm sorry but your teeth aren't here. You didn't give them to your wife to take home?' she asked, hopefully, and was dismayed to see an angry red flush spread across the patient's cheeks.
    'She ain't my wife and it's none of your business, you thieving monkey!' he cried, loudly enough to be heard in the office.
    'Mr Pearson!'