Free Ring for the Nurse by Marjorie Moore Page A

cigarette then slowly inhaled. Dropping the case back into her bag she reseated herself in the chair and crossed one slender nylon-clad leg over the other. “ It doesn ’ t look as if I ’ ll get my own way, So I suppose I ought to go. ” She looked up and a gleam of fun sparkled in the depth of her greenish-brown eyes. “ But I must finish what I was telling you—you know, about Guy and me. He wouldn ’ t run to form, so I was determined to make him! I got right down to it and believe me, it wasn ’ t easy! The whole trouble with Guy is that he ’ s too attractive . G irls fall for him on sight, so he adopted a ‘ keep off it ’ manner which became a habit. I soon saw through his technique and decided I ’ d play up to him. I pretended he bored me to tears, that his type left me cold. That did the trick! He fell for it hook, line and sinker! ” She laughed softly at the recollection.
    Felicity glanced surreptitiously at the clock. Alaine Jason ’ s frankness bewildered her, there was something inherent in her own nature which felt the disloyalty of such disclosures. She realized that there was no malice in the other girl ’ s remarks, that lack of restraint was second nature to her and that such discussions were everyday occurrences among her own friends. She hoped that Sister would soon make her appearance, she began to feel that Alaine Jason ’ s frivolous small talk was more than she could cope with.
    “ I don ’ t think Sister should be very long now. ” Felicity could think of nothing more sensible to say to put an end to Alaine ’ s story. She dreaded that she might launch out on other and more personal incidents. Felicity didn ’ t want to hear, didn ’ t want to listen, but she sensed that. Alaine was waiting to go on, enjoying making fun of what to Felicity was a serious and private matter.
    “ I don ’ t think it ’ s much good waiting anyway, you ’ ve already told me she won ’ t allow me in. ” Alaine Jason sighed as she got up from her seat and not troubling to find an ash tray, stubbed out her cigarette in the saucer on the tray which Felicity had as yet had no opportunity to remove. “ Oh, well, I may as well go. Sorry I can ’ t see him, but at least I ’ ve met you. I like you, in fact you aren ’ t my conception of a nurse at all, you must come along to, my flat some time, I ’ ll fix you a drink. ”
    “ Thanks, ” Felicity murmured non-committally.
    At the door, Alaine Jason spoke again. “ Oh, by the way, I brought Guy some flowers, they are in the taxi, I ’ ll have them sent up. Give them to Guy with my love. ” She paused again, extending her hand. “ So long, I hope you are looking after Guy, he would hate being nursed by that old crow I met last night. ”
    Felicity shook the proffered hand. “ Yes, during the day I am attending Mr. Brenton. ” ‘
    “ Good, I ’ m glad. You ’ re so easy on the eye, tell him from me that from the types I ’ ve seen around this place, h e ’ s damn lucky! ”
    That was a message which Felicity could scarcely deliver but as she watched the slim beautifully dressed figure disappear into the lift, she was aware of an inward sense of amusement. That morning she had felt she could cheerfully have slain Guy Brenton ’ s fiancé e for all the humiliation she had caused her, now she realized that Alaine Jason was one of those artless people who unintentionally caused trouble yet no one ever found the heart to censure them. She would probably go through life living on her own nerves and fraying other people ’ s! Felicity crossed back to the window and opened it wide—she must clear the office of the mingled smell of scent and tobacco smoke before Sister returned. Then she picked up the neglected tray and carried it to the small kitchen at the end of the ward. She was just setting it down when a porter appeared almost obscured by the flowers he carried cradled against his arm.
    “ Sent up by Miss Jason—says as ‘ ow I was