Honorary Surgeon by Marjorie Moore

t know why you ’ re telling me all this. It isn ’ t going to make things easier for any of us. You seem to forget that Veronica is my friend. ”
    “ I don ’ t quite know myself why I am what is commonly known as unburdening my soul, except that you look sympathetic by nature, of is that a kind of professional veneer? ” His tone became cynical again.
    “ There ’ s nothing ‘ professional ’ about my attitude here. I suppose I am fairly sympathetic by nature, although I don ’ t consider that your case calls for sympathy. ”
    “ You blasted women! You always stick together. I might have known that! ” He spoke sullenly. “ I must have been mad, or drunk, to imagine that you ’ d be any different from the rest. Fancy my being beguiled by your superficial air of kindness! You ’ re all alike beneath the surface, the whole damn lot of you! ... So sweet and pure to the outward eye, and at heart about as gentle as a hell-fire cat. Pah! ” He grunted contemptuously. “ I suppose that prim and virtuous air of yours is merely a cloak for the average woman ’ s amorous instincts! ”
    “ I don ’ t think you have reason to speak to me like that, much less the right. ” Mary spoke with a quiet assurance she was far from feeling. Guy Perivale ’ s sudden change of behaviour had completely bewildered her. His original outburst had been disturbing, but it had no connection with the brutal wording of his later harangue. She had suspected that he was moody, but this ... how could she ever cope with it?
    “ Oh, well, you may as well know the sort of brute I am right from the word ‘ go. ’ You ’ d have found out sooner or later. I don ’ t think I ’ ll wait for your tea-drinking orgy. ” He rose to his feet, then, with a sudden downward swoop, bent and kissed her full on the mouth, and as swiftly drew himself upright and walked indoors, leaving Mary gazing after him in horrified amazement.

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN
    A light tap on the door aroused Mary from a deep sleep.
    The maid, Johnson, entered the room, and placing a tea-tray beside the bed, proceeded to draw the curtains.
    “A lovely morning, miss, and very warm again,” she announced as she carefully looped the curtains in place. “Shall I run your bath?”
    “Please,” Mary nodded assent, and, taking the tray on her knee, poured out a cup of tea.
    “Please ring if there is anything you want,” Johnson suggested as she closed the door behind her.
    Mary drank her tea, then, setting the tray back on the bedside table, slipped out of bed. The luxury, so long denied her, and the joy of freedom made her glow with renewed energy. She hummed happily as she lay full length in the scented bath-water, flicking the even surface with her fingers until it lapped in tiny, soothing ripples against her bare limbs. How lovely to enjoy such unhurried pleasures without insistent rattles at the handle and impatient knockings on the door. She lingered pleasurably over her dressing. How nice it was to lay aside, for a time, the stiff uniform of nursing, and to draw over her limbs the silk underwear, carefully retained from former times for such an occasion as this. She donned a white linen frock and arranged a scarlet suede belt at her waist. She was giving a final dab of powder to her nose when Veronica walked in.
    “ Hullo. Sleep all right? ” Without awaiting an answer, she kissed her friend. “ You do look nice. I adore that dress! Ready for breakfast? What would you like to do today? ”
    “ Anything you like. I shan ’ t be a second; I can ’ t get my hair to stay put this morning. ” Mary pushed an unruly curl into place.
    “ I can ’ t think why you don ’ t wear it short. It would look heaps nicer, and with those glorious waves, too. ” Veronica sighed enviously. “ I only wish I had hair like that. ”
    “ Yours just suits you as it is; you do it beautifully. I used to wear mine short, before I was at hospital. I don ’ t think they really approve