Free General Well'ngone In Love by Libi Astaire Page A

attention to the long-case clock and looking inside.
Satisfied that the case was empty of all but the workings of the
stately clock, he next walked over to the door that led to the
library, which he quickly opened and just as quickly
closed.
    “ Then what are you looking for?”
    “ Joshua,” he replied, striding down to the far end of the
drawing room, where he opened the door that led to the
hall.
    “ Joshua and Esther and Sarah are in the nursery, in
bed.”
    “ In theory, but I wish to be certain.”
    After casting
a careful eye behind the curtains, and finally assuring himself
that a certain inquisitive six-year-old boy was not hidden in the
room, Mr Lyon returned to his place by the mantelpiece.
    “ What I am about to say must go no further than these four
walls,” he began, casting a solemn glance upon each of the ladies
in turn. “Mr Taylor and his sister are, indeed, without family or
friends. Their parents died of the fever in Jamaica, as I
understand, and Mr Taylor used the small legacy he received to
undergo training as a physician. I believe he studied somewhere on
the Continent.”
    “ If I recall correctly, at the Seder he mentioned that he had
studied in Gottingen,” said Hannah.
    “ Why did he study medicine in a German city and not in
England?” asked Rebecca.
    “ There is only one medical school in England that will accept
young men of our faith, and places are limited,” replied Mr Lyon.
“Mr Taylor was not accepted, perhaps because he was neither born
nor reared in this country.”
    Rebecca
accepted this answer, but as so often happened, no sooner had one
question been resolved than another one rushed into her mind. “I
wonder that he did not return to Jamaica, to become a physician
there. Jamaica must be very beautiful.”
    “ The island might have its charms for an artist,” said Mr
Lyon, well aware of his daughter’s interest in painting and
drawing. “But Mr Taylor has an unmarried sister, and the Caribbean
is not the place to find her a suitable husband.”
    “ But if she has no fortune, what good will it do her to be in
England?” asked Mrs Lyon, who was always very practical when it
came to matrimonial matters.
    “ Once her brother is established as a physician, Miss Taylor’s
prospects should improve.”
    Mrs Lyon
remained doubtful. “His work at the orphanage cannot bring him
much. Has he other patients?”
    “ I believe that Mr Melamed engaged his services before
Passover. And should anyone in our family require a physician, I
have assured Mr Melamed that we shall send for Mr Taylor, as
well.”
    “ Thank G-d, our children are healthy - pooh, pooh, pooh,” said
Mrs Lyon, looking nervously about her to make sure that no demon
harbingers of disease had crept into the room. “I should not like
to have a physician as a regular visitor to our home, unless, of
course, it was to invite Mr Taylor and his sister for a Shabbos
meal.”
    “ I only say that should one of our children develop a cough or
a sore throat, we would be doing Mr Melamed a favour by sending for
Mr Taylor. You, Rebecca, for instance, if I am not mistaken, this
evening you are looking a little pale. Are you perhaps not feeling
well?”
    “ I am very well, only I am puzzled. Why would we be doing Mr
Melamed a favour by engaging the services of …?” Rebecca suddenly
blushed. “Oh, I see. Mr Taylor and his sister are Mr Melamed’s
current charity case, is that it, Papa?”
    “ Mr Melamed is most likely letting the rooms on Bury Street
for a minimal sum, until Mr Taylor’s medical practice is
established,” said Hannah, taking up the conversation’s
thread.
    “ Our Sages tell us that the highest form of charity is to help
set up a person in business, so that one day he will no longer need
public assistance,” said Mr Lyon. “Therefore, it is the
responsibility of all of us to help newcomers to our community, not
just Mr Melamed.”
    “ But we do not have to make ourselves sick to do so,”