' He went past her into the kitchen and looked in the fridge, then coolly opened the cupboard and looked in that too.

His face bore a look of surprised horror, but all he said was: "Dear girl, I had no idea; I am so used to Mrs Silver or Mrs Burge or Ria waiting with a meal to serve the moment I get home; evidently William eats out or at the hospital.

I told him that you would be back this evening, but he must have forgotten.

' He swung her gently round and caught her by the arm.

"Come on, we're going to my house to have a meal.

' There was nothing she would like better; she was hungry and depressed, the idea of sitting alone in this neglected little room, drinking tea with no milk in it, almost moved her to tears.

All the same, she said: "Thank you, but there is no need--you must have a great deal to do--besides, we had dinner before we left.

' He opened his eyes wide.

"But that was hours ago.

' He smiled at her and she found herself smiling back and he said: "That's better--it's only half past ten, you know.

Mrs Silver will feed us.

' It was pleasant to be overruled; Beth allowed herself to be led down the dreary staircase again and out to the car.

Only when they were seated side by side once more did she venture: "But your list--does it start at eight?

' "Yes, dear girl, and if you're worrying about a good night's sleep so that I have a nice steady hand in the morning, don't; six hours is enough for me.

' He gave her a long look, and said deliberately: "Don't fill your pretty head with nonsense of that sort.

' He had said "Don't worry your pretty head', she had heard him distinctly, and while common sense told her that it was a mere figure of speech, she wished that it had been more than that even while she urged herself not to be so stupid.

The profess or was a dear; the nicest man she had ever met, but there was no use in getting sentimental about him.

She ignored his remark and made a prosaic observation about the Sunday evening traffic.

It was just as he had said; as he put the key in his door Mrs Silver came bustling into the hall with a cheerful: "There you are.

Profess or," and when she saw Beth, 'and you've brought Miss Partridge with you, and a good thing too, for I've got the most delicious pate of cod's roe waiting for you--I'll bring it to the sitting-room and you can have it on the small table there--the pair of you will be lost in the dining-room.

' She beat a retreat and they caught the words 'hot b.u.t.tered toast,"

and 'good strong coffee' as she went back to her kitchen.

The profess or caught Beth's eye and grinned disarmingly.

"You see what I mean?

I don't deserve it, but I have the most wonderful people to look after me.

' It was on the tip of her tongue to observe that probably he paid the wonderful people very high wages, too, for it was obvious to her after several weeks in his household that he was a wealthy man, although she was forced to admit that even without a penny to his name he would have been offered the same service.

They went into the sitting-room together, where a small round table had been drawn up to a cheerful log fire and the profess or urged her gently into a chair beside it before going to a side table, elegantly burdened with decanters and gla.s.ses.

"Sherry?

' he offered, and when she said yes, brought it to her and sat down close by, to engage her in undemanding conversation until Mrs Silver, standing back with a nod of satisfaction from the table, told them that their meal was ready.

It was a delicious supper, but even if it had been beans on toast and Nescafe, she would have enjoyed it.

The profess or, when he chose, could be an amusing companion and he had the gift of listening as well as talking; when she looked at the bracket clock above the Adam fireplace, she couldn't believe that it was getting on for midnight.

"The time," she exclaimed, 'look at the time!

' Her companion remained calm.

"Home in ten minutes, you'll be in bed soon after.

' "Yes, but you--I'm keeping you up, surely I can take a bus?

' "Don't you care for my driving?

' She chuckled.

"Don't be absurd.

Profess or--you're a very good driver and you know it.

I never feel nervous with you.

' "I had noticed.

There are girls, you know, who squeal and clutch one's arm at every corner--so trying.

' "I don't suppose you take them out a second time?

' Her voice was demure.

"Thank you for my supper.

Has Mrs Silver gone to bed?

' "I imagine so--if I had known that you wished for a chaperone, I would have asked her to stay up.

Miss Partridge.

' He was laughing at her.

"Don't be so silly--I only wanted to thank her for her lovely pate.

' He was standing close to her, but she didn't look at him.

They didn't say much to each other on the way back to the flat; at the door he got out too and despite Beth's protest, went upstairs with her and saw her into her own flat, but he didn't go in with her this time, only advised her to go to bed at once and wished her a good night.

She stood leaning against the door after he had gone, listening to his unhurried steps on the stairs, feeling suddenly tired and dispirited, before taking his advice, and without bothering to unpack, went to bed.

There was a letter in the morning, typed, brief and businesslike.

It accompanied a cheque for her two weeks at Caundle Bubb.

She read it through several times, seeing not the cold typed words but the kind and considerate man behind them.

He would be a perfect husband; she sat at the kitchen table while the kettle boiled and allowed herself the indulgence of daydreaming--a succession of slightly muddled thoughts, all vague, and brought to an abrupt end by the kettle's whistle.

She drank her tea and sat down once more to do sums; any number of them on the back of a paper bag, lying handy.

The cheque would pay for William's shoes and a suit besides, for she had spent very little of the first one, and as for herself, she would go shopping the very next morning.

She tore round the flat, tidying it up, mopping and dusting and changing beds in a whirlwind of activity.

By eleven o'clock the place looked like home again and she was in the kitchen, making bread.

She had milk and eggs by now and there were several tins in the cupboard.

She was trying to decide what to make from them when William came in, followed by the sheepish Dobson.

Her brother's, "Hi, Beth," was hearteningly delighted, and his companion's, "Hullo, Beth," while only an echo of William's exuberance, was genuinely pleased.

Probably with good cause, she thought, remembering William's efforts at cooking.

She greeted them in sisterly tones, offering coffee and asked if they were staying to lunch.

William looked surprised.

"Well, of course--Profess or van Zeust told me you'd be back for a couple of days.

' He clapped a hand to his head.

"Oh, lord, I meant to have brought some food!

' "I found some tins.

' Beth looked at Dobson.

"You'll stay too?

' "I say, may I?

You're sure you don't mind?

I could easily.

' She smiled at him very kindly.

"There's plenty.

You're on again this afternoon, I suppose?

' "Um--and then on call until tomorrow morning and back on duty until teatime, so you won't see us before you go.

' William sniffed.

"Can I smell bread?

' "You can--you forgot to buy any.

' They went into the sitting room and had their coffee and she was brought up to date with all the latest hospital news.

Only when they had come to an end of this did William ask: "And how were things with you, Bern?

' "Profess or van Zeust didn't tell you?

' she asked, and was given a shocked look.

"Good lord, Beth, he's a profess or--one of the big boys--he doesn't discuss his private life with the likes of me.

' "Oh, well--I didn't know.

Actually it's been great fun--he took me over to Chifney.

' She proceeded to tell them about the visit to Philip and Margaret.

"And you should have seen their faces!

' she chortled.

"Profess or van Zeust just swept everything along the way he wanted it to go.

You ought to see Sugar and Beauty now, they look marvellous.

' "Now aren't you glad I talked you into it, old girl?

' her brother wanted to know.

"Any lolly yet, by the way?

' She rose to go into the kitchen.