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was with Aldin, who had gone out of town on business for the day and had taken her in
his car for the pleasure of the run.
"I suppose you won't be seeing Aldin before you leave?" Chris asked Carline.
"He won't be back in time," said Carline. "I am catching the five-forty-five from
Paddington."
"If you write to him or speak to him on the telephone, will you please remind him to be
sure to come round on Tuesday evening?"
"Really, Chris! Are you under the impression that Aldin and I write to each other by
every post?" Carline laughed. "He couldn't ring me up, anyway, because we are not on
the telephone at home."
She wished she had not vouchsafed this information, for she could see Chris thought
that if there had been a telephone, Aldin would have been on the line to her just as
often as he was at Chelsea Terrace. She spared a few moments to wave Chris off, and
gladdened herself throughout the busy day with the thought of the great event of his
first steps forward.
At a quarter to five she was giving her last patient exercises and promising herself a
punctual occupation of her reserved train seat at Paddington, when she was called to
the telephone in Miss Angela's office.
Leone's distressed voice greeted her.
"Carline, can you come? Aldin has had an accident to his eye and he's in hospital."
"Where are you?" Carline enquired hastily. "A place called Varley: V-a-r-l-e-y."
"Where is it?"
"Not far from London. It's in Surrey, and there's a railway station."
"But I was just going off home," said Carline, concerned for Aldin and yet thinking this
was surely a case for an appeal to Leone's mother.
"I've tried to ring the Terrace, but there's no answer," wailed Leone. "Veller must have
taken Chris into the Gardens. And I'm all alone and frightened. I've always been afraid
of hospitals. Carline, please come, please. . ."
Carline enquired whether Aldin was hurt seriously, and she heard Leone sobbing and
then the line went dead. Carline's hand went out to the railway guide on Miss Angela's
desk and then it stayed still. She thought of her precious weekend, worked for and
waited for. She thought of waking up tomorrow morning in the peace of the hills, and
she thought of her parents' disappointment if she didn't go.
Oddly enough, her thoughts were more of Chris than of Aldin. "Look after Leone,"
Chris had said. "Do what you can for Leone."
Carline took up the thick, orange paper-covered book and turned the pages hurriedly.
It was six o'clock when she arrived at Varley, and took a taxi to the hospital from the
station yard. A
porter directed her to Casualty, a nurse looked at her blankly when she enquired after
Mr. Burdock.
"I don't think we have admitted anyone of that name," said the nurse. "Will you take a
seat, please, while I enquire."
Her enquiries seemed to be lengthy. Carline had expected to find Leone sitting upon
the benches waiting for news of Aldin, but she was not to be seen. It was possible that
she had been allowed to go up to the ward where Aldin was, but somehow Carline
could not envisage it.
After some time the nurse returned.
"We did have a Mr. Burdock here for a short time," she told Carline. "He had a speck of
dust underneath his upper eyelid. A mere trifle. It was removed and he was not
detained, so you needn't be anxious."
Carline thanked her and departed. She judged the distance to the railway station to be
less than a mile and it did not seem worth while ringing up for a taxi. Her suitcase was
small, but by the time she reached the main street, she was tired, and the cake which
she had bought for her mother seemed to weigh pounds.
Dusk was falling as she plodded up the High Street, set on quite a steep hill. Lights
glowed invitingly from the Lion Hotel as she passed it, vaguely noticing masculine
figures seated under the whitepillard portico and dismissing the thought of indulging
herself with a meal before she recommenced a journey that was bound to be tedious.
Hasty footsteps came behind her and a hand relieved her of her suitcase.
"Carline!" said Aldin. "I've been watching out for you, but I could hardly believe you
were really coming. I've been up to the station twice."
He gazed at her, beaming.
"You look worn out, poor darling," he said.
"Come into the hotel and let me try to revive you."
He didn't call her "darling" ordinarily, but she let
it pass and accompanied him, thankfully, and when
he asked if she would like a drink first or to go
straight in to dinner, she said she would be glad to have something to eat, without
mention of her train and the need to hurry.
She tidied herself in the cloakroom, glad that she had bought the gay little spring hat
that matched the primrose of her blouse, but wishing she had been wearing something
more glamorous than a suit for dining with Aldin. The hotel was old, dark-beamed and
romantic, with cherry-colored carpeting on the slightly sloping landing, and a fine oak
staircase that called for the tap of satin slippers and the soft frou-frou of a billowing silk
gown.
Aldin waited in the hall and a genial waiter conducted them with unction to a table near
a window looking out upon a walled garden where blossom drifted palely in the magic
of the twilight. The waiter's name was George, and he and Aldin discussed the menu
in a manner which indicated that they were already well acquainted. Smoked salmon
was set before them, and a fillet steak was ordered, also a Chambertin agreed upon by
Aldin and George after serious perusal of the wine list.
Carline enquired after Aldin's eye.
"It must have hurt very badly," she sympathized. "Leone was quite frightened about
you. When she telephoned to me, I had the impression you were seriously injured."
"And that was why you came!" Aldin's eyes spoke volumes. "Carline, that was very,
very sweet of you."
"But where is Leone?" queried Carline.
"I trust and pray she is safely at home in Chelsea by this time," said Aldin. "I'd better
ring up later on to enquire. I didn't do so before, knowing Chris would be in a state
about her if she hadn't turned up. I can't see how I am to be blamed for it." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]