It was already half past seven.

Alethea swallowed her tea and raced through a shower; she was going

with Sarre to the clinic and she mustn't keep him waiting.

She put on the cotton jersey outfit, a modic.u.m of make-up, brushed her hair free of tangles and hurried downstairs.

In the hall she paused.

There were a number of doors, one or two of them were slightly open; she knew the sitting room and the drawing room and the study, the others were unknown quant.i.ties.

She was about to try the first one when Sarre's voice reached her.

"In here, Alethea-right-hand middle door.

' It was a small room with no window, getting its light from the

drawing room beyond the open double doors.

Sarre got up as she went in and pulled out a chair as he wished her a cheerful good morning.

She sat down at the small oval table and he asked: "Tea or coffee?

There's coffee here, but I have it on the best authority-Al--that Mrs

McCrea is poised over a teapot with the kettle in case you would prefer tea.

' She laughed.

"T had a super cup of tea just now.

I'd like coffee, please.

' She was taking the first sip when Al sidled through the door.

His "Morning, miss," was chirpy, but then she supposed he always was.

"A nice rasher and an egg or two?

' he suggested, 'or there's a bit of 'am.

' Her eyes swept the table.

There was marmalade and toast and orange juice--she was expected to have the bacon and eggs.

She told him one egg and two rashers and he slipped out of the room.

Only when they heard the faint creak of the baize service door did Sarre remark: "We've gone all British, as you see, only the warm

weather saves us from plates of porridge.

Did you sleep?

' "Like a log.

When do you want to go to the clinic?

' He glanced at his watch.

"In about half an hour.

Does that suit you?

' "Of course.

Don't the children come to breakfast?

' He shook his head.

"Nanny says they don't eat properly unless she's there to see that they

do.

' He glanced at her.

"Perhaps that's something you'll be able to alter later on.

They're getting too old for her.

I wouldn't dream of sending her away, but I'd like her to stop babying

them both.

' He didn't say any more because Al came back then, and she was thankful that she didn't have to answer him. Life was going to be rather wonderful in this lovely old house, but it was going to hold a few pitfalls too.

But she forgot all this in the morning's interest.

The clinic was on the other side of the city, on its very edge, so that

the grounds merged into the green countryside.

It had a large outpatients' department as well as several wards and a wing of private rooms. Alethea, very much interested, poked her pretty nose everywhere, asking endless questions of both Sarre and Wien and, and then went and sat in Sarre's office while he and his brother went away to see their patients.

From what she had seen the whole scheme seemed to be working extremely

well, and she was impressed.

It was unusual for orthopaedic surgery and osteopathy to join forces so closely, but it appeared to work well.

The clinic, she had been told, had been going for five years now and Wien and had told her proudly that their treatment had resulted in success for at least seventy per cent of their patients.

"And that doesn't include the improvements," he added.

"Of course, not all Sarre's patients are suitable, but the younger ones especially react very well.

' "And the older ones?

' she had wanted to know.

"T get them first, before operation, I knock them into shape, as it

were, control their diet, give them ma.s.sage, exercises, osteopathy.

' And later, when Sarre had finished his work there and they were driving back to the house, he told her more.

He didn't exaggerate or enthuse as Wien and had done, but she sensed

that he was completely confident in the work they were doing at the clinic.

"And do you think the idea will catch on in England?

' she wanted to know.

"Yes.

Sir Walter is enthusiastic--so is a surgeon in Hamburg.

That's where I have to go in a few days' time--five, to be exact.

I'll take you back first, of course.

I'm afraid we shan't be able to go away at present, Alethea, I've a good deal of work lined up and probably I shall have to go back to Hamburg within a few weeks.

Perhaps you would like to come with me?

' "Yes, please.

But what about Sarel and Jacomina?

' "We'll manage some kind of a holiday with them during their summer break.

I've a boat on the lakes in Fries land, we could spend a few days on her.

Do you sail?

' Alethea admitted with a sinking heart that she didn't.

Her knowledge of boats was nonexistent and she wasn't sure that she wanted to know anything about them, anyway.

She felt a little rea.s.sured that afternoon, though, for they went to Sneeker Mere and he showed her the boat, a st.u.r.dy batter, which looked rea.s.suringly safe and extremely comfortable to boot.

That evening the children had dinner with them and they talked about the holidays and Alethea, ignoring their angry blue eyes, agreed to all Sarre's plans for a few days' sailing en famille.