' "The English countryside is delightful tell me about it, Elizabeth.

' She liked the way he called her Elizabeth; she would have to be careful when she got back to St Elmer's, though; it would never do to be on such a free and easy footing with him there.

It was surprising to her that although they had known each other for such a short time, she should feel so easy with him, as though she had known him all her life and he would be going back to Holland very soon and she would never see him again.

But in the meantime she would tell him about Chifney and the village because he seemed to be enjoying it, though probably he wouldn't remember any of it once he was away from England.

She said now, a little hesitantly: "Well, if you would really like to know.

' and told him about the house and the village and the people who lived there, although she told him nothing about herself; she had, she remembered uneasily, already told him too much before, although it wasn't likely that he remembered much of it.

He didn't appear to be paying much attention to her now and she kept her chatter deliberately light and after a little while declared her intention of going to bed; it disappointed her a little that he made no attempt to persuade her to remain with him a little longer.

He showed little wish to share her company during the next few days either; they met at occasional meals, or pa.s.sing each other in the hall on their way in or out, but usually the children were with her, and if he had any time to spare he gave it to his small relations.

Beth felt that she was beginning to turn into a real live governess and that it was a good thing that within a day or so she would be back in the Recovery Room, so she was all the more surprised when at breakfast on Friday morning he asked her to accompany him to hospital.

"I haven't a list until this afternoon," he explained, 'and Mar tina wants to see you.

' She b.u.t.tered toast.

"What about the children?

' "Mrs Silver has promised to look after them until we get back.

I should like you to come, Miss Partridge.

' She was tempted to think of some excuse because he looked so sure that he would get his own way, but he had spoken in the same terms that he might have used if he had been asking her to put up a drip or alter the flow of the oxygen, so she said: "Very well.

Profess or," and busied herself cutting Alberdina's toast into fingers.

She was glad that she was already wearing the tweed suit, although she didn't feel that it really did justice to her companion's elegance as she joined him in the hall, but her hair had gone up perfectly that morning with no stray ends, and all the outdoor exercise she had had with the children had pinkened her cheeks in a most attractive manner.

She smoothed her leather gloves over her capable hands and sat quietly beside him while he manoeuvred the car through the traffic.

She was neither ill mannered not particularly shy, but after a quick glance at his face, it seemed to her that to chatter nothings while he had such a preoccupied look on his face wouldn't have done at all; it was only when he stopped outside the hospital's main entrance that she asked: "Shall I go up to the ward?

I expect you have things to do.

' He stared at her from beneath his hooded lids.

"No, I have nothing to do, we will go together.

' He disdained the lift; by skipping up the stairs without pause Beth was able to keep pace with him, but only just.

At the top of the first flight she said tartly.

"There are two more flights of stairs, if you don't slow down I shall just stay where I am.

' He stopped at once.

"My dear girl, I'm sorry.

I was thinking.

' "Yes, I know.

Is something worrying you?

' He was leaning against the hideous wrought iron bal.u.s.trade.

"Hardly that--ask me again in ten minutes or so and I'll tell you.

' They went on up, at a more sober pace now, until they reached the Private Patients' Wing, where, after a brief pause in Sister's office, they went along to Mevrouw Thor becke's room.

She was up, sitting by the window in the most gorgeous dressing gown Beth had ever seen, and surrounded by flowers.

She smiled as they went in, offered her brother a cheek to kiss and gave a hand to Beth as she said in a friendly voice: "I hear from my brother that you have been wonderful with the children, and I am so grateful.

Will you sit down?

Has he told you about his--our plan?

' "No.

' Beth turned to look at the profess or, lounging on the end of the bed, his hands in his pockets, apparently not very interested in the conversation.

"We--that is I--would be so happy if you would come with me and the children into the country, just for--shall we say two weeks?

I know that it must seem impossible to you, but it can be arranged.

The children are so fond of you and although I am almost well I do not think that I could manage without help.

' She paused and Beth took the opportunity to say: "It's very kind of you to want me, Mevrouw Thor becke, but I haven't any more holiday to spare.

' "Not holiday, it seems that you can be lent.

I do not understand it at all, but Alexander knows all about it.

' She looked anxiously at Beth.

"You do not perhaps like the idea of spending two more weeks with the children?

' "Well, I hadn't thought about it," said Beth with truth.

"I like them and I've enjoyed this week very much, but I don't want to lose my job.

' The profess or spoke at last.

"There is no fear of that, I will guarantee that you return to St Elmer's the moment you wish to.

I've already spoken to all the necessary people it's for you to decide; you have only to say that you would prefer not to go with my sister.

' "How long exactly would you want me to stay?

I have to think about William.

' "Ah, yes William.

Do you suppose he could manage for another couple of weeks?

' He got off the bed and came over to her chair.

"Dear girl," he said quietly, 'will you do this for me?

' Something in his voice made her look at him; his expression was as placid as usual, but his eyes were curiously intent.

She told herself that she was being a weak-minded fool as she heard herself agreeing to go.

CHAPTER FOUR.

later, after the profess or had taken her back to the house and gone again, Beth wondered what on earth had possessed her to agree to his wishes; she liked the children, and she had enjoyed the week at his house, but there were several reasons why it might not be convenient now that she had had time for reflection.

The flat and William, for instance--who would clean the former and look after the latter?

A little belatedly she wished she had asked for time to see William before she had consented to go away for a further two weeks.

She thought about it, on and off, for the rest of the day, so that the children accused her of being absentminded more than once, and when Profess or van Zeust came- home at last after tea, she waylaid him on his way to his study.

"Could you spare me a few minutes.

Profess or?

' she wanted to know.

He stopped to stare at her.

"Second thoughts, Elizabeth?

' He smiled a little.

"Yes, of course you may have as many minutes as you want-come in.

' He waved her to a chair by the window and sat himself on the edge of his desk.

"Well?

' he inquired.

71 She wasn't a girl to beat about the bush.

"I should like time to see William; I should have talked to him before I agreed to go with Mevrouw Thor becke--I can't think why I didn't think of it then.

' "This evening?

' His instant agreement took her by surprise.

"Why not?

It is something I should have thought of, too.

Is he off duty or shall we go to the hospital?

' "He's on call for Cas.

' "In that case we'll go when the children have been put to bed, and ask Mrs Silver to put back dinner until we return.

' Beth raised her pansy eyes to his.

"Oh, but there's no need for you to take me.

I'll jump on a bus.

' "You will come with me in the car.

' He sounded quite definite about it, and then, smiling his charming smile, "And I promise you that if you want to change your mind there will be no hard feelings.

' "Thank you, and I'm sorry to be such a nuisance, but I don't think I could go until I've seen William.

' "Of course not.

' He got off the desk and walked round to the chair behind it; very likely he had work to do, so Beth thanked him again and went back to the children, feeling considerably relieved at his readiness to fall in with her ideas.

Her relief might not have been so profound if she had overheard the conversation he had on the telephone as soon as she was safely out of earshot.

They left a couple of hours later, the children safely tucked up for the night, and the profess or, while his usual friendly self, made no mention of the matter uppermost in her mind.

At the hospital entrance he declared that he had something to discuss with the Senior Registrar, and left her to make her way to Casualty, on the chance of finding William there.

He was, sitting in Sister's office with Staff Nurse King, drinking tea; the place empty of patients and having that brooding silence such places always have once everyone has gone home for the day; that it would fill up presently was a certainty; it always did, but now it was peaceful enough in an uneasy kind of way and she could see that William was in a good mood.