Free Nurse Saxon's Patient by Marjorie Norrell Page B

the proper use of them. They are the ones who should grumble, and yet they seldom do. I know, I did a spell in a rehabilitation hospital once, and they had a lesson for all of us, even people like myself. ’
    ‘ Why did you become a nurse? ’ he asked. ‘ It ’ s something I ’ ve often wondered about girls like yourself. Fancy wanting to spend all your days amongst the sick and maimed, when you ’ re young and healthy and should be enjoying some of the best years of your own life ...’
    ‘ That ’ s partly why, ’ Julie told him gravely. ‘ It ’ s because I ’ m young and healthy and strong I feel I ought to help those who are not. I can ’ t explain it, there aren ’ t words ... or else I don ’ t know enough to express what I mean, but I feel those who can help should ... and in some strange way that sort of seems a “ thank you” to the Almighty for one ’ s own good luck ...’
    ‘ I know what you mean, ’ Garth said slowly, and she knew that he did understand, that he knew what she was trying to say, no matter how inarticulate she believed herself to be on the subject. ‘ That ’ s Aunt Lavinia ’ s philosophy too, and a jolly good one, in my opinion. I ’ m lucky to have her as an aunt and you as a nurse, ’ he grinned at her disarmingly. ‘ In fact I ’ m lucky all round. Now, are we ready to go back to work? ’
    They worked steadily on until Mrs. Andy came to call them for dinner. Edna had brought out a tray at teatime and they had eaten the dainty sandwiches and enjoyed their tea, relaxing in the shade. After dinner they watched a play on lie enormous television screen since Garth could not take part in a game of cards because he could not as yet use his hands. They went to bed early, and Julie, helping Garth to undress, felt a glow of satisfaction as he gave a tired but contented sigh and commented: ‘ A few days like this and I ’ ll have caught up on all the notes and things I wanted to write and be ready for the actual work on the drawing-board as soon as I can use my hands. ’
    ‘ You won ’ t do much at first, ’ Julie cautioned him. ‘ You ’ ll have to get back into it gradually, ’ but her heart was singing with thankfulness for him when she left him and retired to her own room to slip between the cool, lavender-scented sheets and relax, falling quickly into a deep, refreshing sleep.
    Friday began in much the same way, but shortly after lunch Edna came in to say that Miss Maitland had telephoned and would be along a little earlier than she had anticipated. Would it be all right if she arrived in time for dinner?
    ‘ Tell her yes, of course, Edna, ’ Mrs. Andy said promptly, but in some strange way it seemed that a constraint had fallen over the little party. Garth did not mention the other girl until he and Julie were once more back in the s umm er-house and she was waiting for him to tell her what it was he wanted written down next. Folding his bandaged hands in his lap, he began to speak, but it was not about the Civic Development he began to talk.
    ‘ Tell me something about Miss Maitland—Tansy—will you, Julie, please? ’ he begged. ‘ It must sound foolish to you, but I can ’ t remember her at all. I know I ’ ve met her, that she ’ s vaguely familiar, but nothing more than that. Yet the ring she ’ s wearing—the one on her engagement finger— Mr. Greensmith says I put it there, that she ’ s my fiancé e, so it doesn ’ t really make sense that I don ’ t remember more about her, does it? ’
    Except, Julie thought swiftly, that Ian was right when he commented that perhaps Tansy was something, someone, he subconsciously wants to forget, and his subconscious is taking this way of obliterating all memory of her and that incident just before the trailer hit them ... Aloud she commented: ‘ I agree it doesn ’ t appear to make much sense, Garth, but I know very little about things like loss of memory, amnesia and so on. I only know there are