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asked if she remembered how he’d told her that as time passed things would get easier? Of course she remembered, she’d told him. And had he been right? Oh, yes, he’d been right!
    No doubt about that. With the passing of each day, as he had forecast, things had certainly become easier. She had settled at the Lodge and become part of its life, though not forgetting the precious memories of the life she had left behind. She’d made friends, done well in her duties and at school, and had been allowed to have visits from Mrs Hope and Kitty, who’d brought Master Bun, as requested and, joy of joy, had been able to visit them in the village.
    She’d even faced her parents’ house again in Baxter Row, but had drawn the line at meeting the new tenants. At least they didn’t have her parents’ furniture – all her mother had been able to leave her – for that had been sold for thirty pounds, no less, which was now in her post office savings account. To her, it was a fortune, though she knew well enough that she would probably need every penny when she was alone in the outside world.
    Still, she wasn’t there yet. For now, she was facing Dr Mark, wondering why he’d come himself to collect her, and perhaps that showed in her face, for he said easily, ‘Soon as I was told my next patient was you and you were waiting in the garden, I said I’d take a breath of air and find you myself.’ Seating himself next to her on the bench, he laughed a little. ‘Because I knew where you’d be, of course.’
    ‘Under the Handkerchief Tree,’ she answered, her voice sounding husky even to herself. ‘It’s very kind of you to come for me.’
    ‘Not at all.’ He grew serious as he put cool fingers against her throat. ‘And there are no prizes for me to see that you’ve got the same tonsillitis I’ve been seeing all morning. Come on, let’s get you back to Matron and I’ll examine your throat.’
    As they both stood up, however, he shook his head in surprise. ‘My word, you’ve grown, Shona! You’re not so far down from me as you used to be, are you? And have you done something with your hair? I thought you had a plait?’
    ‘That was ages ago, Doctor Mark! Miss Bryce wanted all the girls to have their hair cut because she likes the new style; she thinks it’s more hygienic.’
    ‘Probably right, too, but takes a bit of getting used to, I expect.’ As they began to walk back to the house, he added quickly, ‘Suits you, though.’
    Blushing, she made no reply, and after a moment, he asked what was coming next for her. ‘Am I right in thinking that you might be leaving Edina Lodge soon?’
    ‘At the end of the summer term.’
    ‘Do you have any plans for what you’ll do?’
    ‘No’ yet. All of us leavers have to see Miss Bryce and she’ll fix us up with somewhere to go.’ Shona’s voice was not only hoarse now, but low as she brought out the dreaded words. ‘Domestic service, that’ll be. And I’m no’ keen.’
    ‘I should think not! You’re a bright girl, Shona, you could find something better.’
    ‘I want to.’
    ‘You must tell Miss Bryce. I’m sure she’ll have good advice.’
    Shona’s smile was wry, but they had reached the house and she said no more. There was no point, anyway, in telling Doctor Mark that she already knew what Miss Bryce’s advice would be. ‘Find a good situation, my dear, and you’ll have work, three meals a day and a roof over your head.’ What more could an orphan want?
    In Matron’s room, with the matron herself and her assistant nurse present, there could of course be no further opportunity for conversation with Dr Mark anyway, and Shona just had to stand patiently as he examined her throat and felt the glands of her neck. ‘Not too bad,’ he declared. ‘There’s no suppuration – that’s a nasty discharge – which means you should recover fairly soon. I’m going to give you a linctus which will soothe the discomfort, and some tablets to relieve your