THE pale February sunshine shining through the window highlighted the pleasant room beyond: a room of restful colours, greens and blues and greys, chosen no doubt to dispel the unease of the patients who entered it. Such a one was on the point of leaving, escorted to the door by Professor Jason Lister, a large, very tall man, remarkably handsome with it. He shook hands now, gave the lady a reassuring smile, and handed her over to his receptionist before closing the door again and going back to his desk to pick up his pen and begin to write.
He had hardly done so when the door opened and the receptionist poked her head round it. The professor didnât lift his head. âLater, Mrs Wells, Iâm due at the hospital in half an hourâ¦â
âYes, I know, sir, but itâs Mrs Gault on the outside line. She says she must speak to you at once.â
He took off his reading-glasses and sighed. âVery well.â He smiled as he spoke, and Mrs Wells, a middle-aged widow with a sentimental heart, beamed at him.
The voice at the other end of the phone was urgent and agitated. âJason? Is that you?â The voice didnât wait for an answer. âIâve just had a phone call from that place in Chile where Tom isâheâs ill, and they want me to go there as soon as possible. Iâm packing now. The children have half-term tomorrow and my flight goes midmorning. I canât leave them here aloneâ¦â
âWhere is Patty?â
âSheâs gone home to nurse her motherâIâve been managing without her. Jason, what shall I do?â
âThe children can come here; Iâll find someone to collect them and look after them while youâre away. I canât get to your place, Iâm afraid, but Iâll arrange something and phone you back. Donât worry more than you must.â
He put down the receiver, switched on the intercom, and asked Mrs Wells to come in.
âWe have a problem,â he told her, his placid voice giving no hint of the size of it. And when he had finished telling her, he asked, âDo you know of an agency where I can get someone at a momentâs notice?â
âYes, I do, sir. Thereâs a very good oneâin Kingsway, I believe. I can look it up. Will you speak to them?â
âPlease, and as soon as possible.â
The mellifluous voice at the agency assured him that a person suitable to his requirements would be sent immediately.
âAfter six oâclock,â he made the request, âand this is the address. It must be someone who is prepared to travel down to Tisburyâthat is a small town in Wiltshireâby the early-morning train.â
The professor put down the receiver, put his spectacles on again and resumed his writing, and presently took himself off to the hospital in his dark grey Rolls Royce.
When the phone rang, Araminta was peeling potatoes. She dried her hands and went to answer it, although her sister Alice was sitting within a foot of the instrument, but then Alice had been told two years ago that she had anaemia and must lead a quiet life, an instruction which she obeyed to the letter, encouraged by their father, who doted on her.
âYes?â said Araminta, anxious to get back to the potatoes.
âMiss Smith? I have an urgent job for you. Short-term, I believe.â
The woman from the agency gave the details in a businesslike manner. âAfter six oâclock, and Professor Lister is depending on you.â
She rang off prudently before Araminta could refuse to go.
âThatâs a job,â said Araminta. âIâll finish the potatoes, but perhaps you could cook the supper. I may be gone for a few hours.â
Alice looked alarmed. âBut, Araminta, you know Iâm supposed to take life easilyâ¦â
âI donât suppose it would harm you to grill the chops, love. We do need the moneyâFather borrowed the housekeeping. I donât know what for.â
Alice looked awkward. âWell, I did mention that I needed another dressing-gown, and he bought me one.â
Araminta turned round at the door. She spoke cheerfully, for there was no point in voicing her hurt that their father loved Alice dearly and regarded herself as the housekeeper and occasional wage-earner. He was kind to her and sometimes, when he remembered, he told her how useful it was that she was so handy around the house, as well as getting the occasional job from the agency. âThereâs plenty of food in the fridge if Iâm not back in a day or two.â
She finished the potatoes, changed into her tweed jacket and skirtâsuitable for the occasion, she hopedâ made sure that her hair was neatly coiled and that her nose was powdered, found an umbrella and went to catch a bus.