HARD ON THE SECRETARY
Nurse Rosemary sat with her patient in the sunny library at Gleneesh.A small table was between them, upon which lay a pile of letters--his morning mail--ready for her to open, read to him, and pass across, should there chance to be one among them he wished to touch or to keep in his pocket.
They were seated close to the French window opening on to the terrace; the breeze, fragrant with the breath of spring flowers, blew about them, and the morning sun streamed in.
Garth, in white flannels, wearing a green tie and a button-hole of primroses, lay back luxuriously, enjoying, with his rapidly quickening senses, the scent of the flowers and the touch of the sun-beams.
Nurse Rosemary finished reading a letter of her own, folded it, and put it in her pocket with a feeling of thankful relief.Deryck was coming.He had not failed her.
"A man's letter, Miss Gray," said Garth unexpectedly.
"Quite right," said Nurse Rosemary."How did you know?""Because it was on one sheet.A woman's letter on a matter of great importance would have run to two, if not three.And that letter was on a matter of importance.""Right again," said Nurse Rosemary, smiling."And again, how did you know?""Because you gave a little sigh of relief after reading the first line, and another, as you folded it and replaced it in the envelope."Nurse Rosemary laughed."You are getting on so fast, Mr.Dalmain, that soon we shall be able to keep no secrets.My letter was from--""Oh, don't tell me," cried Garth quickly, putting out his hand in protest."I had no idea of seeming curious as to your private correspondence, Miss Gray.Only it is such a pleasure to report progress to you in the things I manage to find out without being told.""But I meant to tell you anyway," said Nurse Rosemary."The letter is from Sir Deryck, and, amongst other things, he says he is coming up to see you next Saturday.""Ah, good!" said Garth."And what a change he will find! And I shall have the pleasure of reporting on the nurse, secretary, reader, and unspeakably patient guide and companion he provided for me." Then he added, in a tone of suddenly awakened anxiety: "He is not coming to take you away, is he?""No," said Nurse Rosemary, "not yet.But, Mr.Dalmain, I was wanting to ask whether you could spare me just during forty-eight hours; and Dr.Brand's visit would be an excellent opportunity.I could leave you more easily, knowing you would have his companionship.If I may take the week-end, leaving on Friday night, I could return early on Monday morning, and be with you in time to do the morning letters.
Dr.Brand would read you Saturday's and Sunday's--Ah, I forgot;there is no Sunday post.So I should miss but one; and he would more than take my place in other ways.""Very well," said Garth, striving not to show disappointment."Ishould have liked that we three should have talked together.But no wonder you want a time off.Shall you be going far?""No; I have friends near by.And now, do you wish to attend to your letters?""Yes," said Garth, reaching out his hand."Wait a minute.There is a newspaper among them.I smell the printing ink.I don't want that.
But kindly give me the rest."
Nurse Rosemary took out the newspaper; then pushed the pile along, until it touched his hand.
Garth took them."What a lot!" he said, smiling in pleasurable anticipation."I say, Miss Gray, if you profit as you ought to do by the reading of so many epistles written in every possible and impossible style, you ought to be able to bring out a pretty comprehensive 'Complete Letter-writer.' Do you remember the condolences of Mrs.Parker-Bangs? I think that was the first time we really laughed together.Kind old soul! But she should not have mentioned blind Bartimaeus dipping seven times in the pool of Siloam.It is always best to avoid classical allusions, especially if sacred, unless one has them accurately.Now--" Garth paused.
He had been handling his letters, one by one; carefully fingering each, before laying it on the table beside him.He had just come to one written on foreign paper, and sealed.He broke off his sentence abruptly, held the letter silently for a moment, then passed his fingers slowly over the seal.
Nurse Rosemary watched him anxiously.He made no remark, but after a moment laid it down and took up the next.But when he passed the pile across to her, he slipped the sealed letter beneath the rest, so that she should come to it last of all.
Then the usual order of proceedings commenced.Garth lighted a cigarette--one of the first things he had learned to do for himself--and smoked contentedly, carefully placing his ash-tray, and almost unfailingly locating the ash, in time and correctly.
Nurse Rosemary took up the first letter, read the postmark, and described the writing on the envelope.Garth guessed from whom it came, and was immensely pleased if, on opening, his surmise proved correct.There were nine to-day, of varying interest,--some from men friends, one or two from charming women who professed themselves ready to come and see him as soon as he wished for visitors, one from a blind asylum asking for a subscription, a short note from the doctor heralding his visit, and a bill for ties from a Bond Street shop.
Nurse Rosemary's fingers shook as she replaced the eighth in its envelope.The last of the pile lay on the table.As she took it up, Garth with a quick movement flung his cigarette-end through the window, and lay back, shading his face with his hand.
"Did I shoot straight, nurse?" he asked.
She leaned forward and saw the tiny column of blue smoke rising from the gravel.
"Quite straight," she said."Mr.Dalmain, this letter has an Egyptian stamp, and the postmark is Cairo.It is sealed with scarlet sealing-wax, and the engraving on the seal is a plumed helmet with the visor closed.""And the writing?" asked Garth, mechanically and very quietly.
