Honorary Surgeon (15 page)

Mary sat up with a start..
“
Veronica engaged?
”
she echoed.
“
No, I certainly didn
’
t know that fact. I suppose it must have happened while she was with her parents on that prolonged holiday which finally landed her at Singapore. We were out of touch at the time, and then Veronica doesn
’
t give away her inmost feelings readily, so I imagine that when it was all over she didn
’
t want to write about it. Still, that doesn
’
t enlighten me as to why she didn
’
t marry him.
”

“
Some foolish quarrel, I believe. She
’
s always been headstrong and a bit spoilt, and Alymer wasn
’
t going to stand any tantrums, but I didn
’
t hear about this broken engagement until too late. He came out to Singapore after we were married. To be fair to Alymer, I don
’
t believe he knew her whereabouts, and certainly didn
’
t expect to come across her there, and then it all leaked out. She admitted that she only accepted me out of pique, and that she
’
d never stopped caring for Alymer. Jolly for me, wasn
’
t it?
”
he asked in a bitter tone.

“
I suppose that he and Veronica
...”
The words stuck in Mary
’
s throat.

“
No, I
’
m sure that they
’
re not lovers, in the accepted sense of the term, if that is what you were going to say. To do him justice, he
’
s not that type, and, anyway, he
’
s got his damned position to think about, apart from more moral considerations. Besides, I don
’
t think Veronica would risk losing Jeanette; she adores that kid.
”
He shrugged his shoulders despairingly.
“
You see, it
’
s a pretty hopeless situation.
”

“
But you can
’
t go on like this for the rest, of your lives. It
’
s awful. You
’
re both so young. Why, neither of you will ever get any happiness!
”
Mary protested.

“
I agree with you, but it
’
s worse than awful; it
’
s a positive tragedy. That
’
s chiefly why I
’
ve made Johnnie Walker my friend.
”

“
I wish you
’
d accept me in his place,
”
Mary suggested, smiling up into Guy
’
s sombre eyes.

“
What
’
s the use? I can
’
t take you East with me, and I can assure you troubles loom a hundred per cent larger there. I might as well drink myself to death and be done with it. Life isn
’
t so attractive, and Veronica and I have made an almighty hash of things.
”
He drew his brows together frowningly, until they almost met over his dark eyes.

“
Don
’
t talk like that, Guy, please. You don
’
t want to spoil my day, do you?
”
Mary begged.

Guy pulled her to her feet, and grasped her right hand.
“
No, I wouldn
’
t do that for worlds. You
’
ve done me a whole heap of good, and we are friends now, aren
’
t we?

“
Friends indeed! But you
’
re forgetting your manners, as usual!
”
she teased in reply.
“
It
’
s long past lunch time!
”
He gripped her hand more firmly, then released it, and led the way to the dining-room.

On her return to Windyridge, Mary ran lightly up the stairs and entered Veronica
’
s room.
“
Well, darling, here I am back again! Tell me, how
’
s Jeannie?
”
she burst out.

“
Loads better, I
’
m thankful to say; temperature nearly normal and sound asleep now. In fact, after all, I
’
ve had quite a peaceful day! Thanks chiefly to you!
”
she added softly.

“
Oh, I am glad about Jeanette; that must be an enormous relief.
”‘
She sank into a chair, and crossed one slim leg over the other.
“
I
’
ve had quite a peaceful day too!
”
she remarked casually.

“
Mary dear, I am glad. I was a bit nervous after you
’
d gone, wondering whether you would hate it or not. Guy didn
’
t drive like a maniac, or
...
otherwise make a nuisance of himself?
”
she queried hurriedly.

“
No. Guy was a model of good behaviour. We discussed all sorts of things, and your own private affairs as well.
”
She looked intently at her friend.
“
I hope you didn
’
t mind. I thought perhaps a good heart-to-heart chat might ease matters. I hope it has.
”

“
Guy is a great talker, but I
’
m afraid he forgets too quickly all that he says, especially promises.
”

“
I don
’
t think he went so far as to make any promises this time,
”
Mary retorted.
“
I hadn
’
t realized, though, that he knew you were unhappy
...
and in love with another man.
”
She rose and seated herself on the arm of Veronica
’
s chair, and gently stroked back the thick dark hair.
“
It
’
s terribly hard on both of you. I wish you could patch things up, if only for Jeanette
’
s sake.
”

Veronica twisted round sharply.
“
It
’
s only because of her that I put up with Guy for a single hour.
”
Her voice rose shrilly.
“
I wouldn
’
t stand this miserable existence for a minute if it weren
’
t for he
r.
”

“
But, darling, if Guy divorced you, he might not insist on the custody of Jeanette.
”

“
It isn
’
t as easy as all that
...
One gets tied up with the utmost facility, but to get out of marriage is like finding one
’
s way through a labyrinth.
”
Veronica gave a wry smile.
“
I turn it over and over in my mind until my brain feels like a pulp; there isn
’
t a solution; one just has to go on and on
...
‘
until death us do part,
’
”
she finished miserably.

Mary slipped her arm consolingly round the other girl
’
s shoulder.
“
Don
’
t sound so dismal. I can
’
t believe that matters are as impossible as you pretend. It may be terribly immoral of me to suggest that you go off with the man you care for, but it seems to me less wrong than continuing to lead this dog and cat life with Guy.
”

“
I couldn
’
t
...
Don
’
t you see that it
’
s not practical? In the first place, I couldn
’
t spoil his career and you know how divorce ruins anyone in a public position. And then there
’
s Jeannie. I
’
ve already told you that it
’
s a vicious circle.
”
Veronica strangled a sob.

“
Yes, I must say that you are beginning to convince me of the hopelessness of the situation.
”

“
And there
’
s another thing: have I the right to allow my daughter to bear the stigma of a divorced mother? I know people don
’
t bother so much nowadays, but the disgrace is there just the same, and what respect can I expect when the child is old enough to know the truth?
”
Veronica passed her hand wearily across her forehead.
“
It
’
s
u
tterly futile trying to change the inevitable. I
’
m tired of pitting my feeble strength against a brick wall.
”

“
Poor dear!
”
Mary spoke gently, but for the first time she was compelled to admit that there seemed no answer to the problem. No wonder that Guy had grown sullen, for he too must be forced to acknowledge the insurmountable obstacles which beset their path. She supposed that the time would come when Guy himself might seek consolation elsewhere, but she was aware that Guy would be far too cunning to be caught out in any misdeed. Well, there was no point in carrying on with the depressing subject, so, with a hastily assumed air of nonchalance, she picked up a time-table lying on the desk.
“
I must study this wretched book now,
”
she remarked with a grimace.
“
I want to go by a train that will get me to town about six-thirty or so. I
’
ve a date for dinner,
”
she explained casually.

“
Oh, there
’
s a good service. You won
’
t have any trouble about fitting that in,
”
Veronica answered, taking her cue of forced hilarity from her friend.
“
But it
’
s hateful to hear you talking about going; you only just seem to have arrived. Couldn
’
t you possibly stay an extra day or so?
”

Mary burst out laughing.
“
That
’
s a good one! Extra leave!
”
she mocked.
“
Why, I wasn
’
t even due this fortnight; I only got it because I wasn
’
t well. I was supposed to wait until October.
”
Then she added seriously,
“
No, darling, it would be quite impossible. You know I
’
d adore it, but it simply can
’
t be done. I
’
ll have to go on Saturday as I arranged, but it
’
s been marvellous here. I can
’
t tell you how much I
’
ve enjoyed it. It
’
s been an ideal holiday, and what a perfect rest! I shall never be able to thank you enough!
”
She leant down and kissed Veronica impulsively.

“
You haven
’
t got to thank me. Aunt Bess has really been your hostess, and we
’
ve both loved having you. I shall miss you terribly.
”
Veronica
’
s face again clouded.

“
Well, you must come up and meet me in town. I do get a moment or two
’
s spare time.
”
She paused, then added enthusiastically:
“
We might even be able to manage a matinee; that
’
s the height of dissipation for me, you know.
”

This time it was Veronica
’
s turn to laugh.
“
Doesn
’
t sound much like dissipation to me, but of course it would be fun, and certainly a change for you, judging from what you have told me of the drabness of your routine.
”

“
It
’
ll certainly be something to look forward to.
”
Mary jumped up.
“
Time to change for dinner.
”