'Come off it, sir,' said the Padre genially. 'You've made a lot of friends, which mark my words you'll hang on to till your dying day. And that's valuable, sir. A lot of people can get an education, but not many of 'em can collect as sound a bunch of good friends as you young gentlemen do. Wherever you go, sir, no matter how many years to come, you'll still remember Mr. Benskin and the rest and the good times you've had in these four walls.'
'You know, Padre,' I said, 'that's exactly what I think myself. I was just too frightened to say so.'
The door opened. A porter stood there.
'Dr. Gordon,' he said. 'I've been looking for you all over. Wanted at once in the ward, sir. Emergency just come in.'
I looked at the half-full glass of beer. I picked it up, hesitated, and left it.
'All right,' I said, pulling my stethoscope out of my pocket. 'I'm coming.'
Times have changed, I thought as I walked over to the hospital. I suddenly realised that from now on it was always going to be like this.
