other two all afternoon. Edna brought out tea for her and asked if she would be joining Mr. Garth and Miss Maitland by the lakeside. Just for a moment Julie hesitated. All afternoon she had heard the music from Tansy ’ s radio and knew what effect the long, unceasing stream of sound must be having on Garth, but he knew where she was if he wanted her, and he could walk unaided, or he could send a message with Edna.
‘ No, ’ she said at last, ‘ I don ’ t think so, not unless they ask me to go down and join them. ’
Edna did not return with any message, and the sounds of music did not cease for one minute, so, with a sigh, whether for herself or Garth or both she did not know, Julie resumed her letter-writing, losing herself completely in her description to Roger of her life at Woodlands and the differences she found there after her work in the hospital.
When they all returned to the house for dinner the first thing Julie noticed was that Garth ’ s face was white and strained and that the little muscle at the corner of his mouth twitched perpetually. He was not hungry, he told his aunt apologetically. He had a bad headache and thought he might have ‘ a touch of the sun ’ . Mrs. Andy fussed over him, but sensibly left the treatment to Julie, while Tansy fussed even more, irritating them all, especially Garth, with her offers of aspirin, iced cologne and so on, until finally Julie felt bound to intervene.
‘ He ’ ll be perfectly all right when he ’ s had a little rest and quiet. ’ She spoke to the other girl, but her reassurance was for them all. ‘ We mustn ’ t forget, ’ she smiled so that Tansy would not feel she was being scolded, ‘ that Mr. Holroyd had a severe head injury just a little while ago and it will be some time before he really recovers from the effects of that. Take this, please, ’ she shook a tablet into her hand from the small box in her pocket and offered it to Garth, ‘ and come and rest where it ’ s cool. ’
‘ Can ’ t you stay with me, Julie? ’ he asked, when she had settled him comfortably on the terrace. ‘ You ’ re such a restful sort of person to be with. ’
‘ It would be better if you cl osed your eyes and tried to sleep for a little while, ’ Julie informed him. ‘ I ’ ll call you before Miss Maitland is ready to leave. ’
Tansy left shortly after dinner and by the time Julie wakened Garth to say goodbye he was looking and obviously feeling very much better. They all stood on the terrace to watch Bailey drive her away, Julie keeping a little in the background as she felt she ought to do, but no sooner had the huge car disappeared round the curve of the drive than Garth turned to her, smiling.
‘ Can you give me your opinion on a new idea I ’ ve had for the air purification unit in the kitchens? ’ he asked. ‘ I ’ ve an idea it can be mass-incorporated into all the houses on the development site. .. ’
‘ Of course. ’ Julie smiled back at him and followed him into the lounge where he had left some papers spread out on a small table. In a short time they were deeply immersed in his new idea, Julie listening to him, nodding now and then, occasionally putting in a word as something from the housewife ’ s angle struck her as being essential.
Watching their heads so closely together over Garth ’ s papers, Mrs. Andy nodded to herself. This was what she had hoped for, to know that her favourite nephew and godson had found a girl who, besides being presentable and well-mannered, shared his working interests and enthusiasms, knew where his ambitions lay and would help him always to further them.
And Tansy would drive him mad in six months, Mrs. Andy reflected. Ah well, we shall see what we shall see!
But the next three weekends merely repeated the pattern of the first visit Tansy had made as a weekend guest to Woodlands. As Garth grew stronger the physical effects were less apparent, but the nervous strain was beginning to tell and
‘ No, ’ she said at last, ‘ I don ’ t think so, not unless they ask me to go down and join them. ’
Edna did not return with any message, and the sounds of music did not cease for one minute, so, with a sigh, whether for herself or Garth or both she did not know, Julie resumed her letter-writing, losing herself completely in her description to Roger of her life at Woodlands and the differences she found there after her work in the hospital.
When they all returned to the house for dinner the first thing Julie noticed was that Garth ’ s face was white and strained and that the little muscle at the corner of his mouth twitched perpetually. He was not hungry, he told his aunt apologetically. He had a bad headache and thought he might have ‘ a touch of the sun ’ . Mrs. Andy fussed over him, but sensibly left the treatment to Julie, while Tansy fussed even more, irritating them all, especially Garth, with her offers of aspirin, iced cologne and so on, until finally Julie felt bound to intervene.
‘ He ’ ll be perfectly all right when he ’ s had a little rest and quiet. ’ She spoke to the other girl, but her reassurance was for them all. ‘ We mustn ’ t forget, ’ she smiled so that Tansy would not feel she was being scolded, ‘ that Mr. Holroyd had a severe head injury just a little while ago and it will be some time before he really recovers from the effects of that. Take this, please, ’ she shook a tablet into her hand from the small box in her pocket and offered it to Garth, ‘ and come and rest where it ’ s cool. ’
‘ Can ’ t you stay with me, Julie? ’ he asked, when she had settled him comfortably on the terrace. ‘ You ’ re such a restful sort of person to be with. ’
‘ It would be better if you cl osed your eyes and tried to sleep for a little while, ’ Julie informed him. ‘ I ’ ll call you before Miss Maitland is ready to leave. ’
Tansy left shortly after dinner and by the time Julie wakened Garth to say goodbye he was looking and obviously feeling very much better. They all stood on the terrace to watch Bailey drive her away, Julie keeping a little in the background as she felt she ought to do, but no sooner had the huge car disappeared round the curve of the drive than Garth turned to her, smiling.
‘ Can you give me your opinion on a new idea I ’ ve had for the air purification unit in the kitchens? ’ he asked. ‘ I ’ ve an idea it can be mass-incorporated into all the houses on the development site. .. ’
‘ Of course. ’ Julie smiled back at him and followed him into the lounge where he had left some papers spread out on a small table. In a short time they were deeply immersed in his new idea, Julie listening to him, nodding now and then, occasionally putting in a word as something from the housewife ’ s angle struck her as being essential.
Watching their heads so closely together over Garth ’ s papers, Mrs. Andy nodded to herself. This was what she had hoped for, to know that her favourite nephew and godson had found a girl who, besides being presentable and well-mannered, shared his working interests and enthusiasms, knew where his ambitions lay and would help him always to further them.
And Tansy would drive him mad in six months, Mrs. Andy reflected. Ah well, we shall see what we shall see!
But the next three weekends merely repeated the pattern of the first visit Tansy had made as a weekend guest to Woodlands. As Garth grew stronger the physical effects were less apparent, but the nervous strain was beginning to tell and
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