Free Doctor's Orders by Eleanor Farnes Page B

said.
    “Of course,” said Anthea, "and I will sit and watch you.”
    Some of the logs he carried were long and must have been very heavy, but he made light work of them. He was arranging them on the long sled, and he explained to Anthea that they must be extremely firm and secure, or they would not remain in position on the journey to the hotel. When the pile was as large as he could safely manage, he began to rope it on tightly, dealing quickly and efficiently with the load. Then he turned to Anthea, smiling.
    “Now,” he said, “I make the descent.”
    “Come and have a cigarette first,” she suggested, and he crossed to her side, sat down near her and accepted a cigarette from her elegant gold case. She offered her lighter; and Hans saw that this, too, as well as the bracelets dangling from her arm, was of gold. He said to himself: She is bored and is looking for a little amusement. He said aloud: “This is wasting my time.”
    “Surely you can take a few minutes of your own time, or must you always work so hard?”
    “Everybody in the mountains works hard. It is a hard life.”
    “It seems to me you lead a very good life.”
    “You haven’t seen enough to know, Fraulein. But yes, I lead a very good life, but a hard one. I would not change it for any other.”
    “You would not like to live in a city?”
    “I could not live in a city. I would have to get out of it, or I would die of suffocation.”
    “Do you often go down to the valley?”
    “Yes, I must go on business, quite often. Tomorrow, I have business even farther away,” and he mentioned the town in which Dr. Frederic lived.
    “No, really?” exclaimed Anthea. “We are also going there tomorrow. I have an appointment in the afternoon. Will you be there in the afternoon? I was thinkin g how nice it would be if you would show us the town.”
    He smiled and told her she was impulsive, but he agreed that he would meet Miss Pevrill and herself, and show them the worthwhile things in the town. Then he said he must work, and showed Anthea how he must negotiate his heavy load down the steep path of the mountainside. “It would be better if I had a boy to hold a rope at the back, and act as a brake,” he said, “or Katrina would do it for me, if she were here. But as it is, I must manage alone.”
    He did not think that Anthea could help, and she did not think to offer to. They began the difficult descent, Hans in front of the long sled, using his body as a brake, digging in the heels of his strong boots, using every suitable place in the banking and every curve of the zig zag to advantage in slowing up the heavy load. He was absorbed in getting his wood down safely, and had no time for Anthea, but Anthea had plenty of time to study and admire him, and found herself looking forward to meeting him next day in the town.
    She had no intention of allowing Diana to be with her, and when Diana declared her intention of finding a particular music shop in her search for a special book of folk-songs, Anthea said immediately:
    “Oh, it bores me to spend so long shopping. Let us separate, and I will explore a little while you look for your music. We can meet at Dr. Frederic’s, when we are due for our appointment.”
    “Well, if you would prefer that ...”
    “Much. That will give you nearly two hours.” So they separated, and Anthea met Hans at the appointed place, and explained airily that Miss Pevrill had wanted to hunt down some special music, and that they would see the town without her. Hans looked down at her from his great height, thoughtfully. Then he suddenly smiled, showing those strong, white teeth of his. After all, he thought, if she is doing this for her amusement, why should not I amuse myself too? He made her a brief but polite bow, and declared that that would be delightful.
    Diana found her music more easily than she expected, and, having time in hand, sat at one of the larger cafes of the town, at one of the pavement tables, drinking tea