"Yes, thank you. Sister. That's in two weeks' time; I'm looking forward to it."

"I won't say you're a lucky girl because you so deserve it. Rose. Now, as to this treatment, let's get it clear."

There was plenty of work which was a good thing; she was too tired to think or mope when she went off duty, the days went quickly and the thought of her weekend off kept her going.

Aunt Millicent was glad to see her. Not a lady to show her feelings, nevertheless she had welcomed Rose with real warmth, and as for Maggie, that dear soul fussed round her like a hen with a chick; it was soothing to be made much of and under their kindness Rose's good sense began to take over from her black mood. It happens all the time, she told herself, girls falling in love with the wrong man, I just have to forget him and make up my mind to a career. Indeed, she actually told her aunt that she intended to apply for the post of junior night sister.

"Which will give me a chance to get a ward sister's post if one falls vacant," she pointed out.

"It's a good jumping-off job "Yes, if you wish to jump," pointed out Aunt Millicent drily.

She wasn't a lady to invite or offer confidences but she was well aware that Rose was unhappy and when it came to talking about her visit to Holland extremely cagey.

"It'll be that surgeon with the awkward name," she informed Maggie as the pair of them watched Rose picking peas in the garden.

"And Rose being the girl she is, she'll break her heart silently."

Old Maggie sighed.

"The dear soul, such a darling girl too! A wife in a million she'd be."

She sniffed.

"I'll make a Dundee cake for her to take back with her."

They stood watching her, each of them loving her in their own way.

Rose didn't tell her aunt about her visit to Holland until a short while

before she had to go back to St. Bride's.

"I like Christina very much," she explained.

"It will be nice to see little Duert again."

"And I dare say you'll meet some interesting people--friends of the ter

Brandts," observed Aunt Millicent casually.

"Oh, perhaps, they have a lovely house, I'll be quite happy just sitting around in the garden all day."

"You'll go and see the girls you met at the hospital while you were there?"

Her aunt's voice sounded uninterested.

"Perhaps. It's been a lovely weekend. Aunt Millicent, thank you."

"Oh, pooh," said her aunt gruffly, "Maggie and I love to have you.

Come again soon, my dear. "

CHAPTER SIX.

the summer weather had broken as Rose got off the bus and hurried through the rain to the hospital entrance. Slow drops of rain were falling and great clouds were piling up above her head. There would be a storm before morning and if the weather turned bad it would mean an evening in the sitting-room, drinking endless cups of tea and bandying hospital gossip. She took her case to her room and went down to the canteen for her supper and found most of her friends there. They greeted her noisily, all agog to tell her the news that Sadie had given in her notice. Alice, who always got hold of gossip before anyone else, said, "She decided to get married just like that. Giving up nursing too, her Tom's been offered promotion and they've a chance of a house." Alice added importantly, "We're having a whip round to get her a present."

Having delivered herself of this important piece of news she started on Rose.

"We never heard much about your job in Holland. Have you heard how the little boy is getting on? Your Shirley's doing awfully well. He's a wizard, isn't he, that Dutch surgeon? What's he like to work for?"

"Just as nice as Mr. Cresswell," said Rose, not wanting to talk about him.

"What are we going to get Sadie?"

There was plenty to do on the ward; little Shirley was well on the way to recovery and didn't need as much attention but there were several ill children and a battered baby, a poor sc.r.a.p, undernourished, unloved and covered in bruises. With care he would become a normal baby again but it was going to take time and patience. Rose was glad to have something to keep her busy and her mind off her own affairs.

And after a week, when the baby was beginning to look like a baby once more, she turned her mind to her holiday, only a week away now.

Another dress, she decided, something she could wear in the evenings.

She found a printed lawn with a frilled shawl collar and short full sleeves in a pale cyclamen pink, belted round her slim waist. She brought two or three T-shirts as well, in pastel colours, and a widely pleated deep cream skirt and cardigan to go with it. Trying them all on after duty she felt quite excited; it was unlikely that she would see Sybren Werdmer ter Sane, but if she did she wouldn't look too bad.

Even Alice, that dampener of good spirits, observed that the dress did something for her.

She had heard from Christina; would she get herself a ticket on a morning flight to Amsterdam and someone would meet her there. There was a plane getting in at eleven o'clock, she had written, if Rose could get a seat on it, and if she couldn't would she let her know at once? So everything was arranged and Rose went on duty on a morning four days before she was due to start her holiday to find Mr. Cresswell with Shirley.

"Just pa.s.sing through," he told Rose.

"I'll be back for a round; there's no need to get Sister c.u.mmins. " He wandered to the door.

"I.

hear you're going over to Schiphol on Sat.u.r.day, Rose, which flight? "

She was surprised but told him readily enough, and then gaped at him open-mouthed when he observed, "My wife and I are travelling on that flight too. We'll see you on the plane if not before."

"Oh--you're going on holiday, sir? I'm just going for a week to stay with Dr. and Mevrouw ter Brandt."

"Yes, yes, I know." He wandered off through the door leaving her to wonder how he knew that, certainly she hadn't told him, still news had a way of getting round the hospital and she supposed that even as important a man as Mr. Cresswell might stoop to listen to the grapevine occasionally.

Sadie was to take over from her for the week; now that she was going to leave she was spending her last month filling in for holidays and nurses off sick. Rose primed her well, promised to bring her back a box of the elaborate chocolates they had admired together when they had been on holiday, and packed her case.

The weather hadn't broken, her week bid fair to be perfection. She washed her hair, bought a new lipstick and spent a long time applying varnish to her nails. She had pretty hands and she took care of them; the pearly pink varnish suited them very well.

She was at Heathrow in good time, unhurriedly getting herself through the routine. She was wearing one of the new T-shirts and the cream skirt and had tied back her hair with a matching ribbon and looked cool and uncluttered.

She hadn't expected to see Mr. Cresswell and his wife, at least not until they were all on the plane, but as she went into the lounge, waiting to go on board, Mr. Cresswell waved to her.

"Over here. Rose," he commanded.

She went rather reluctantly; they got on well on the ward but now he was on holiday and his wife was with him. She had met Mrs. Cresswell in the hospital, being taken round the wards to see the Christmas decorations, and she had liked her; a quiet una.s.suming woman, the ant.i.thesis of her husband's rather forceful manner. She smiled at Rose now and beckoned her to a seat beside her.

"So you're going to Holland too," she stated comfortably.

"How long are you staying?"

"Only a week, with Dr. ter Brandt and his family."

Mrs. Cresswell nodded.

"We're going for a fortnight but we're not staying in one place for more than a day or two. Do you like flying? I don't."

They chatted in a desultory fashion until Mr. Cresswell got to his feet as they were asked to board the plane, and Rose bade them goodbye, guessing that they were travelling first cla.s.s, which they were.

She didn't see them at Schiphol; she had collected her case from the carousel and was making her way to a quiet corner to await whoever was to meet her when she found the Cresswells at her elbow.

"There you are," declared Mr. Cresswell, 'thought we'd missed you. And here's Sybren. "

And indeed it was, looking vast and very much at ease, kissing Mrs. Cresswell, shaking Mr. Cresswell by the hand and then as Rose took a step backwards, anxious to get away as fast as she could, flinging a casual arm round her shoulders which effectively rooted her to the spot.

"Hullo Rose," he barely glanced at her.

"I'm dropping you off at the ter Brandts' place." He picked up her case and led the way to where the car was parked, ushered Mrs. Cresswell and Rose into the back, settled himself beside Mr. Cresswell, and drove off.

Rose hadn't said a word. She had been surprised, filled with delight and now, having recovered her wits, indignant. It was like being a parcel, for indeed she had had no more chance to speak up for herself than a parcel would have. She said with only the faintest tremor of rage in her voice, "I was expecting to be met..."

Mrs. Cresswell patted her hand.

"Well, dear, I expect the ter Brandts thought this would be just as quick--Sybren dropping you off, I mean."

It didn't seem worthwhile pointing out to her companion that he was going miles out of his way to do that; Schiphol was right on Amsterdam's doorstep. The Hague was well to the south.

She smiled at Mrs. Cresswell and fell to contemplating the back of Sybren's

handsome head.

To her surprise they all got out when they reached the ter Brandts' house and from the lack of surprise on Corvinus's face, she concluded that they had been expected, all four of them.

Christina came into the hall then.

"Rose, isn't this fun?" She tucked an arm in hers as she greeted theCresswells and lifted her face for Sybren's light kiss."Duert is on his way home, he'll be here in a few minutes. Sybren, take Mr.

Cresswell into the sitting-room and give him a drink while I take the girls upstairs."

She led the way to a bedroom at the side of the house.

"Corvinus will bring your case up presently, Rose." She beamed at her."I like your hair like that. There are combs and things on thedressing-table if you want anything." She turned to Mrs. Cresswell.

"How long are you staying with Sybren?"

"Just for two days, my dear. John wants to go to Ley den and then we're going to Friesland to join friends who are sailing there."

They went unhurriedly downstairs and found Duert had joined his guests, and

in the consequent flurry of greetings and handing of drinks. Rose found herself beside Mr. Werdmer ter Sane. Light conversation was needed; she sought desperately for something to say, took a gulp of her sherry and did her best.

"What a lovely summer we're having," she essayed.

"Weatherwise yes, otherwise no." And when she looked at him, he gave her a

bland smile which didn't help at all. But she persevered, "Well, you havehad one or two difficult cases, I expect.""Indeed I have."She said with desperate chattiness, "Are you on holiday too?""No." He looked at her."I like your hair like that." He sighed gently."I always thought of you as rather a plain girl, but I see that I was wrong."

It wasn't a conversation at all, thought Rose desperately, and everyone else was at the other end of the room. She took another good sip of sherry.

"No, you're not wrong, I'm plain; if you see something often enough you don't see it any more, if you see what I mean."

"A muddled remark, but I get the gist. It is a pity that we can't be friends, Rose."

She was finding the sherry a great help.

"Yes, it is, but it doesn't matter really, does it? We don't--we aren't--that is, we don't share the same background, do we?" She added quite fiercely, "I'm applying for a night sister's post when I get back."