She allowed herself to dream a bit. There would be a little money-not much, but perhaps enough for all of them to have new clothes, perhaps have a holiday-although being in Dorset would be like a holiday itself. She would get a chance to go to a needlework school-night classes, perhaps? Start a small arts and crafts shop on her own? The possibilities were endless. She got her supper presently, and went to work for the last time.
It was a busy night, and when it was over she bade goodbye to those she had worked with and left the hospital for the last time. She had her pay packet in her purse, and an extra month in lieu of notice, and she handed over to her older colleague, who told her that she had been working for the NHS for more than twenty years.
'I don't know what I would have done if I had been made redundant,' she said. 'I've an elderly mother and father who live with me. We make ends meet, but only just-to be out of work would have been a catastrophe.'
It was heartening to find on her way home that there had been several enquiries about the house. The agent, a weasel-faced young man she didn't much like, had arranged for them to inspect the house at any time they wished.
'You'll be there,' he told her airily. 'So it really doesn't matter when they call, if they do.'
'I can't be there all day,' Emmy told him, and was silenced by him.
'You're not on the phone-stands to reason, doesn't it? Someone will have to be there.'
'Will you ask anyone who wants to look round the house to come after one o'clock? I will stay at home for the rest of the day.'
'Suit yourself, Miss Foster. The two parties interested said they'd call in some time today.'
To go to bed was impossible; one never knew, whoever was coming might decide to buy the house. Emmy had her breakfast, tidied away the dishes and sat down on the one comfortable chair in the kitchen. Of course she went to sleep almost at once, and woke to the sound of someone thumping the door knocker and ringing the bell.
The middle-aged couple she admitted looked sour.
'Took your time, didn't you?' observed the man grumpily, and pushed past her into the hall. He and his meek- looking wife spent the next ten minutes looking round and returned to Emmy, who was waiting in the kitchen after taking them on their first survey.
'Pokey, that's what it is,' declared the man. 'You'll be lucky to sell the place at half the asking price.'
He went away, taking his wife, who hadn't said a word, with him. Emmy hadn't said anything either. There seemed to be no point in annoying the man more than necessary. There would be several more like him, she guessed.
The second couple came late in the afternoon. They made a leisurely tour and Emmy began to feel hopeful, until the woman remarked, 'It's a lot better than some we've seen. Not that we can buy a house, but it gives us some idea of what we could get if we had the money.' She smiled at Emmy. 'Nice meeting you.'
Not a very promising start, decided Emmy, locking the door behind them. Better luck tomorrow. Though perhaps people didn't come on a Saturday.
She felt more hopeful after a good night's sleep. After all, it was early days; houses didn't sell all that fast. Only it would be splendid if someone decided to buy the place before she joined her parents.
No one came. Not the next day. She had gone for a walk in the morning and then spent the rest of the day in the kitchen, listening to her small radio and knitting. Monday, she felt sure, would bring more possible buyers.
No one came, nor did they come on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. She wrote a cheerful letter to her parents on Friday, did her morning's shopping and spent the rest of the day waiting for the doorbell to ring. Only it didn't.
The professor, back in London, striding into St Luke's ready for a day's work, paused on his way. While not admitting it, he was looking forward to seeing Emmy again. He hoped that all had gone according to his plan and that her father had got the job the professor's friend had found for him. Emmy would have given her notice by now. He would miss her. And a good thing that she was going, he reminded himself.
He was brought up short by the sight of the older woman sitting in Emmy's chair. He wished her a civil good morning, and asked, 'Miss Foster? Is she ill?'
'Ill? No, sir. Left. Made redundant with several others. There's been a cutting down of staff.'
He thanked her and went on his way, not unduly worried. Ermentrude would have gone to Dorset with her father and mother. He must find time to phone his friend and make sure that all had gone according to plan. She would be happy there, he reflected. And she would forget him. Only he wouldn't forget her…
He left the hospital rather earlier than usual, and on a sudden impulse, instead of going home, drove through the crowded streets and turned into the street where Emmy lived. Outside the house he stopped the car. There was a FOR SALE board fastened to the wall by the door, and the downstairs curtains were drawn across. There was a glimmer of light showing, so he got out of the car and knocked on the door.
Emmy put down the can of beans she was opening. At last here was someone come to see the house. She turned on the light in the hall and went to open the door, and, being a prudent girl, left the safety chain on. Peering round it, recognising the vast expanse of waistcoat visible, her heart did a happy little somersault.
'It is I,' said the professor impatiently, and, when she had slid back the chain, came into the narrow hall, squashing her against a wall.
Emmy wormed her way into a more dignified stance. 'Hello, sir,' she said. 'Are you back in England?' She caught his eye. 'What I mean is, I'm surprised to see you. I didn't expect to…'
He had seen the empty room and the almost bare kitchen beyond. He took her arm and bustled her into the kitchen, sat her in a chair and said, 'Tell me why you are here alone in an empty house. Your parents?'
'Well, it's a long story…'
'I have plenty of time,' he told her. 'And I am listening.'
CHAPTER FIVE
EMMY told him without embellishments. 'So you see it's all turned out marvellously. We just have to sell this house-that's why I'm here. We thought I'd have to give a month's notice, and it seemed a splendid idea for me to stay on until I could leave and try and sell the house at the same time. Only being made redundant was a surprise. I've not told Father, of course.'
'You are here alone, with no furniture, no comforts?'
'Oh, I've got my bed upstairs, and a cupboard, and I don't need much. Of course, we thought I'd be at the hospital all day or all night. Actually,' she told him, wanting to put a good light on things, 'It's worked out very well, for I stay at home each day from one o'clock so that I can show people round…'
'You get many prospective buyers?'
'Well, not many, not every day. It isn't a very attractive house.'
The professor agreed silently to this. 'You will join your parents for Christmas? Have you a job in mind to go to?'
'Yes. Well, I've hardly had time, have I?' she asked reasonably. Then added, 'Perhaps I'll be able to take a course in embroidery and needlework…'
She didn't go on; he didn't want to know her plans. She asked instead, 'Did you have a pleasant time in Holland?'
'Yes. I'll wait here while you put a few things into a bag, Ermentrude. You will come back with me.'
'Indeed, I won't. Whatever next? I'm quite all right here, thank you. Besides, I must be here to show people round.' She added on a sudden thought, 'Whatever would your fiancйe think? I mean, she's not to know that we don't like each other.' Emmy went bright pink. 'I haven't put that very well…'
'No, you haven't. You have, however, made it quite plain that you do not need my help.'
The professor got to his feet. He said coldly, 'Goodbye, Ermentrude.' And, while she was still searching for the
