Cherry Ames, Boarding School Nurse by Helen Wells

Author:Helen Wells
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer Publishing Company
Published: 2007-03-12T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER VIII

Young Dr. Alan

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE PEACEFUL, SUNNY MORNINGS which Cherry thought was almost too peaceful to be true. Not a single patient to be treated in the infirmary, her records brought up to date, all the equipment shining clean. “For once,” she thought, “I could sit and twiddle my thumbs! Not that I want to.”

Cherry wished she could explore the house or at least the three largest rooms, which may once have been the master bedrooms, one of which had been Pierre’s, to look for his cupboard. It had been on her mind ever since hearing of it evening before last. The fragrance of Lisette’s flowers in the sunny conservatory drifted upstairs to her, faint but tantalizing. But a school day, with the staff busy at their tasks all over the house, was not the time to go tapping on walls. Tina or Mrs. Harrison or Mrs. Snyder would think she had lost her mind if they saw her doing such a thing.

The infirmary telephone rang. Cherry reached for it and answered with proper decorum.

“Infirmary, Miss Ames speaking. Good morning.”

“Good morning. This is Alan Wilcox. I called to ask whether you could drive to a farm with me and help out on an emergency baby case.”

“Well, I haven’t a thing to do this morning except a few minor details that can wait. I’ll ask Mrs. Har—”

“This call can’t wait.”

“I’ll get my equipment packed right away,” Cherry said. Mrs. Harrison would almost certainly grant permission.

“Stop by for you in ten minutes,” Dr. Alan said, and hung up.

Cherry moved fast. She reached Mrs. Harrison by telephone and explained the situation. Mrs. Harrison said to go, by all means. She added, “How long has it been since you had a day off, Cherry? With everything under control in the infirmary, I think it would be all right if Mrs. Snyder and I take your place.”

“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Harrison!” She heard the headmistress chuckle. “I’ll be back before dinnertime, though.” Going off with Dr. Alan was important, but her first responsibility was here. She hoped no one at the Jamestown School would break, sprain, bruise, or swallow anything untoward in the next few hours.

In seven minutes flat Cherry packed her nurse’s kit with thermometer, a bottle of antiseptic, paper tissues, sterile cotton, sterile gauze dressings and tape, bandage scissors, forceps, a measuring glass, and hypodermic syringe. She borrowed the infirmary’s rubber sheet. She already wore her nurse’s watch with sweep second hand, and slipped her coat on over her white uniform. She dashed downstairs to the entrance porch just as Dr. Alan, hatless in his old convertible, swung up the driveway. He had the car door already open for her.

“Hop in. How long can you stay?”

“As long as you need me.”

“Oh, fine. Meet Leaping Lena. Watch her, now!”

On the open road he raced the car up to sixty. He seemed relaxed, but started at once describing the case to Cherry.

“I’m in a jam, otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered you. This is a ‘premie,’ and we may have a bit of trouble.

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