"I do believe we're coming out of the wood. Rose."

Very much to her surprise he bent and kissed her cheek.

"Good girl."

He went to the phone and made several calls and very soon Sister was there as well as his registrar. The three of them talked quietly and then the two men examined the child very gently. Rose stood a little apart. Sister was there, handling things and dealing with their needs and there was nothing for her to do. Sister and the registrar went presently and Mr. Werdmer ter Sane asked her to stay by the cot while he phoned and then presently he gave her careful instructions and went away too.

There was little enough to do; only watch carefully and carry out the usual nursing ch.o.r.es. It was half an hour later that he came back and this time he had the ter Brandts with him.

Rose didn't say anything; indeed they weren't aware of anyone else except the little boy in the cot. She slid away to the desk at the window and turned her back and was surprised when Mr. Werdmer ter Sane joined her.

There wasn't anything much to see; a variety of gabled roofs and an enormous number of chimney pots and above them, a wide pale blue sky.

She stared out at them and wished she could think of something to say and presently he went away again without having uttered a word, back to the cot at the other side of the room and now it was Christina beside her.

"Rose, oh Rose, you don't know how happy I am. Oh, my dear, we're so grateful and thankful." She turned a tear-stained face to her.

"We'll never be able to thank you enough."

"But I haven't done anything," said Rose, feeling awkward.

"Oh, yes, you have. You'd made up your mind that little Duert was going to get better and you've had no off-duty and you've had your eyes on him all the time. That was clever, singing the nursery rhymes.

Sybren says he's not out of the wood yet but it's time and careful nursing. You'll stay, won't you? I can't nurse him myself, but I know he is safe with you. "

"Of course, I'll stay. I am so happy for you and your husband, you must be in the seventh heaven. And I'll take great care of him, I promise you, and Wiebeke is wonderful, you know. You'll be able to sleep at night now."

"Yes, oh yes." Christina looked up at her husband who had just joined her. He smiled a little at her and then looked at Rose.

"We are in your debt for the rest of our lives. Rose."

When they had gone she took up her station by the cot again. Perhaps there would be days ahead when not much progress would be made, but it was a start. She took Duert's hand in hers once more and started to sing "Ride a c.o.c.k horse' in her soft little voice.

Mr. Werdmer ter Sane, coming back up the corridor, paused to listen outside the door. He frowned heavily, aware of annoyance because Rose, that most uninteresting of girls, disturbed him. A pity that Christina had set her heart on having her back home when little Duert was well enough to leave hospital. Hopefully, she wouldn't need to stay long.

CHAPTER THREE.

there was a steady improvement in little Duert; he slept for the greater part of the day, but the intervals of wakefulness lengthened and by the end of a week he could be lifted carefully on to his mother's lap when she came to see him. No permanent brain damage, Mr. Werdmer ter Sane a.s.sured her, little Duert was going to be perfectly all right. Even now, he pointed out gently, he was smiling at his mother and father and talking a little. Time and patience, he counselled Christina. Rose wasn't sure if he was quite so hopeful with Doctor ter Brandt although there was nothing in the men's manner to betray their thoughts; she knew it was important to keep Christina happy and at the same time no attempt was made to pull the wool over her eyes; the little boy was indeed making progress but he still had a long way to go and she didn't relax her watchfulness one particle.

It was at the end of a sunny afternoon, when the ter Brandts had gone home, that Mr. Werdmer ter Sane came back to talk to her. Rather to her surprise he wanted to have her opinion of little Duert's progress.

She didn't hurry to answer; he wanted facts, not guesses and too-hopeful opinions.

"He's going ahead, but very slowly. Well, I know progress is slow in these cases but I dare say it seems slower because we're all so anxious to see him well again. However, he's beginning to enjoy his food, he listens when I talk and sing to him and he loves his parents' visits." Rose paused and looked up at the grave face.

"What are you afraid of. Sir?"

"Ah, discerning Rose, meningitis, so keep your intelligent eye open, will you, for the next week. After that we should be all right. No sign of vomiting? No twitching?"

"Fits?" said Rose.

"No, none at all. After fourteen days he should be safe, shouldn't he?"

"Yes, three, no, four days to go. Are you getting tired? You are not getting your proper off-duty, but you do realise that Christina trusts you completely." He smiled suddenly.

"So do I, Rose. Bear with us for a few more days, then you shall have time to yourself."

The smile had shaken her; she had glimpsed a man she hadn't known, quite different from the austere politeness she had come to expect.

"I'm quite all right," she a.s.sured him.

"I go for a walk every evening and I wouldn't know what to do with myself even if I were free."

"It's nice of you to say so, but I find that hard to believe; you knew how to make the most of your stay here when we first met."

"Yes--well, Sadie was with me, she wanted to see everything too."

He cast a quick look at the sleeping child in his cot.

"Ah, yes, Sadie. And how is she? A very pretty girl, I was sorry I had no time to see more of her when I came over to St. Bride's."

"She was sorry too." So he had fallen for Sadie after all, perhaps not all that deeply, but it would have been nice for them both if they could have got to know each other better.

"It was such a pity," went on Rose rather recklessly, 'that Miss Timms insisted on me; Sadie would have loved to come and I'm sure you would have liked to have and her here. "

"You preposterous girl," he exploded with a force whose very quietness was blistering.

"What an extraordinary thing to say to me. And how, now I come to think about it, did you know that Miss Timms urged you upon me?"

Rose kept her eyes on his face, quite petrified inside although she looked her usual calm self.

"I heard her. The office door was open as I reached it and she has a very ringing kind of voice. I heard you too." She tried a conciliatory smile and met a bleak stare.

"I didn't mean to listen. I'm sorry you had to have me when you wanted Sadie."

He said in an even voice: "You were brought here to nurse little Duert: something which you are doing admirably. You can have little leisure toer--take an interest in my own wishes. Nurse Comely. I suggest that we confine ourselves and our conversation to the needs and treatment of the patient."

, Rose went a very bright pink but she met his bland look; it wasn't only bland, there was amused mockery there too, which made it much worse. She sought worriedly for something to say and drew a blank; Providence came to her aid in the shape of his bleep which sent him to the telephone and then, with no more than a nod, out of the room.

Left with her patient. Rose bustled quietly about her duties. Duert was sleeping and there wasn't a great deal to do for another hour other than the regular observations. She sat down by the cot where she could watch him and went over her conversation with Mr. Werdmer ter Sane. A most unsatisfactory one, she thought sadly. Her stepmother had never made any bones about her inability to interest even the most ordinary of young men; she could see how right that lady had been, for not only did Mr. Werdmer ter Sane have no interest in her whatsover, he appeared to dislike her as well. She reminded herself that she didn't like him either but the thought didn't give her the uplift in spirits she expected; it left her gloomier than ever.

But she was a sensible girl; moaning would get her nowhere, and little Duert was showing signs of waking. She went and sat on the side of his cot and began on the string of nursery rhymes he enjoyed and was rewarded presently by his chuckles.

Mr. Werdmer ter Sane brought his registrar with him that evening and it was after the pair of them had examined the little boy and checked the charts that the registrar paused beside Rose to enquire if she was going anywhere that evening?

The, no," said Rose surprised.

"Then perhaps you will come to my home and have supper with my wife and me? My wife would like to meet you."

Rose pinkened with pleasure.

"Oh, would she? How nice. I'd love to come."

"You go off duty at seven o'clock? I will be outside the hospital at eight o'clock. We have a flat not far away."

"That's awfully kind of you. I'll be ready." Her eyes sparkled with excitement; the other nurses had been friendly and gone with her for walks in the evening or made rather laborious conversation round the TV but this was something different. She beamed at him and then stopped smiling as she caught Mr. Werdmer ter Sane's eye. The mockery was there again. Well, let him mock. Her 'good night, sir', was uttered with a lightheartedness which sent his eyebrows up.

It was well past seven o'clock by the time she had given Wiebeke the report and detailed little Duert's progress; by now she had lea mt her way around the hospital and skipped along its corridors and down its stairs intent on getting to her room. She had reached the bottom of the last staircase before she saw Mr. Werdmer ter Sane watching her from a few feet away.

"You are late. Nurse Comely?"

"There is the report to give," she pointed out, 'and Wiebeke and I spend a minute or two talking to Duert so that he knows I'm going and she is coming. " She didn't wait for his answer but skipped past him, along the pa.s.sage to the nurses'

home and through the door. He stood where she had left him and a look of faint surprise was on his face and presently a reluctant smile tugged at his strong mouth.

Some hours later, lying in her bed, comfortably sleepy. Rose reviewed her evening. It had been a delightful one. Wim Becke had been waiting for her and had driven her in his old Citroen to a quiet little backwater of narrow streets where he had a flat. The house was tall and thin and, like most of the old houses, extended back from the street to a depth of several rooms. He lived on the second floor and they mounted narrow twisting stairs to reach it. The landing was small but once inside the tiny hall opened out into a long narrow pa.s.sage with all the rooms on one side. Wim's wife had welcomed her warmly in an English not to be compared with his own rather pedantic speech, and they had all spent some time admiring the small girl, already asleep, before sitting down in the pleasant, low-ceilinged living- room to have their supper. And after the meal they had sat and talked and plied Rose with advocaat, and Marijke had suggested that when Rose was free again, she might like to spend a few hours with her.

"We can go to the shops," she offered, 'they are not too far away and perhaps you wish to buy. "

Rose hadn't left too late, Wim worked a long day now and was on call for a good deal of the time.

"But of course, Mr. Werdmer ter Sane is also always available unless he is out of the country. He is splendid with children as you have seen."

"He is also Wilma's G.o.dfather," interpolated Marijke proudly. Rose had murmured suitably. Obviously he was thought of very highly in Wim's small household.

The next few days went uneventfully by; little Duert, now that he was fully conscious, was going ahead by leaps and bounds. Mr. Werdmer ter Sane came and went, often accompanied by Doctor ter Brandt and Christina, but whether he was accompanied or alone, he had little to say to Rose. On one evening, out for her usual brisk walk before bedtime, she had seen him driving his Rolls. There had been a girl sitting beside him, a sparkling dark creature, laughing and gesticulating. That much Rose had seen as they went past. Mr. Werdmer ter Sane had been looking ahead, faintly smiling, and of course he hadn't seen her standing on the pavement.

Only of course he had.

The crucial two weeks were up the following morning; he examined the little boy even more thoroughly than usual before turning to Wim.

"I do believe that there will be no after effects; he should go ahead fast now, but we must take care for another few weeks. I'll talk to Duert about getting him home--the sooner the better now, you agree? "

He glanced across the cot to where Rose was standing.

"You have done a good job of work, Rose. I must remember to tell Miss Tinuns when next I see her, perhaps it

will compensate her a little for the inconvenience of borrowing you. "

He and Wim spoke Dutch after that and she set about settling little Duert for his nap and presently they wandered away with brief nods. At the door Sister

appeared to ask for Wim's advice about something and led him away and insteadof. following them Mr. Werdmer ter Sane turned back into the room."Do you always go walking alone in the evenings?" he wanted to know.Rose fastened the cot sides and gave him a brief glance."Yes." And then, "Not quite always;if there is someone off duty who isn't going out they go with me. ""You are not lonely?"She had been lonely for some years: she had plenty of friends, everyone liked her but no one loved her. Of course she was lonely."Not in the least," she a.s.sured him.She was glad to see him go.Christina and Duert ter Brandt came the next morning."Sybren's busy," explained Duert smoothly."He told me last night that we could have little Duert home next week.""That is marvelous news," said Rose. She sat Christina down in a chair by the cot where the little boy was having his morning nap.

"He's made Such strides." She glanced at Christina who looked happy b.u.t.tired."You have a nanny, don't you? Isn't the baby due next week?" she added hastily, fearful of sounding as though she was prying.

"Won't he be pleased to have a baby sister...?"

Duert ter Brandt agreed pleasantly.

"Only there is a snag. Christina would like you to come back with us, just for a couple of weeks while she is getting back on her feet. Nanny's a treasure, but she's not a trained nurse."

Rose said at once: "Oh, I should have loved that--to see little Duert really fit again, but I'm supposed to go back to St. Bride's--Sister c.u.mmins was quite annoyed at me coming here, you know."

"Ah yes! the militant gorgon on children's surgical--I've met her.

Rose, if I could manage to persuade her and your princ.i.p.al nursing officer to let you stay another couple of weeks, would you come back with little Duert?

I know you've had no off-duty, but once he's settled in, you shall have your free time made up to you threefold. "

He took a look at his wife.

"Chrissy, it's your rum, darling."

"Please come. Rose," Christina begged.

"If you are there looking after him, I can have the baby in peace of mind.

Please say you'll come?"

She paused.

"Then if anything should go wrong you'll be there to look after him."

"Nothing's going to go wrong," declared Rose, 'and if Miss Timms will let me,

I'll come. "

Little Duert woke up then and was sat carefully on his father's knee.