Free Nurse Hilary by Peggy Gaddis Page A

since you ’ ve failed to put yourself down on the beauty shop records for an appointment, I took the liberty of telling them you ’ d like to have that fabulous hair of yours washed and set at three each Thursday afternoon. It was about the only available time. Our gals spend a lot of time having themselves made beautiful; us hired help have to scramble for what time we can get. ”
    “ But I could run into town on my day off. ”
    “ Why should you? You are entitled to free laundry and free beauty care, so why not enjoy it? ” Mrs. Middleton protested. “ After all, this is the T. & C., you know; nothing ’ s too good for our paying guests and their paid attendants. ”
    Hilary fastened the string of amber beads about her throat, watching Mrs. Middleton from the mirror.
    “ There ’ s something here that Mr. Ramsey considers much too good for the common herd, ” she said grimly.
    Mrs. Middleton looked at her sharply.
    “ Now see here, Hilary, if you ’ re going to start complaining about the empty wards— ” She sighed, and added, “ I should have known this would happen once you got acquainted with Dr. Marsden. It ’ s the favorite bee in his bonnet. ”
    “ You ’ re a nurse, Middy— ”
    “ I ’ m also a n employee of the T. & C., and Mr. Ramsey is the Administrator, and the boss! He will not have the wards occupied by charity patients, and his is the voice of final authority. So don ’ t start trying to change his mind. You ’ ll just get yourself all bruised and sore, and the wards will still be empty. ”
    “ It seems almost a crime— ” Hilary protested.
    “ I suppose so, ” Mrs. Middleton agreed, and headed toward the door. “ But take my word for it; the wards will stay empty as long as Mr. Ramsey has anything to say about it. And I can ’ t visualize anything that would stop his having plenty to say about it. So that ’ s that! I ’ ve got to go on duty — see you later. ”
    The door closed behind her broad back, and Hilary stood for a long moment, staring with unseeing eyes at the girl in the mirror, who looked back at her gravely, brown eyes troubled, lovely oval face drooping sadly.
    “ There is a way, ” she told that girl at last. “ There ’ s got to be a way. And Dr. Marsden and I are going to find it. ”

 
    Chapter Ten
    March had come in howling and roaring like the traditional lion.
    But at last, almost overnight it seemed, the lion was gone with his roaring and a small, fluffy white lamb gamboled in; gray skies were blue; clouds were white sails towed and tugged by mild sportive winds that were a caress rather than a torture.
    Hilary was growing more interested in Dr. Marsden ’ s theories about gerontology. Because Mrs. Barton had arrived at about the same time she had, and because she had been very concerned with Mrs. Barton ’ s agonizing shyness, her homesickness, Hilary was especially interested in Mrs. Barton. And she saw with delight that Mrs. Barton was obviously having the time of her life. She was always on time for meals; her appetite was surprisingly good; her interest in those about her was cheerful and eager. She arrived in the solarium each morning with her knitting bag, out of which she brought mazes of really exquisite crochet.
    “ It ’ s for my daughter, Jill, ” she explained eagerly to Hilary one morning, spreading over her knee a small circle of lacy looking stuff that Hilary could scarcely realize was crochet, so fine was the thread, so delicate the pattern. “ It ’ s a luncheon set. There will be a centre cloth, and then place mats for a dozen plates. Do you think she ’ ll like it? ”
    “ Like it? Why, it ’ s perfectly beautiful, ” said Hilary. “ I can ’ t imagine anyone not liking it. It looks like fine lace. It would cost a fortune if you tried to buy anything like that. ”
    Mrs. Barton looked up at her, startled.
    “ You mean I might be able to sell it? ” she asked.
    Obviously, the thought had never occurred to her