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unaccountably nervous: she only prayed that it didn ’ t show. S h e wished that Brenda Malling weren ’ t around, her presence at this awkward meeting wasn ’ t going to make things any easier. The ringing sound of footsteps on the tiled corridor came nearer and, with a desperate effort to control her nervousness, Jill stood up, and it seemed that her heart thumped in time to those ominous footfalls.
    “ Our new Sister is here, sir, ” Nurse Malling announced from her position in the doorway, as Duncan McRey ’ s tall, figure approached.
    T he pregnant silence that followed his entry seemed to Jill unending. He appeared even bigger than she recalled, and his presence entirely dominated the r oo m. She knew his eyes to be on her—those steely eyes with their merciless, penetrating gaze. She longed to keep her own eyes lowered, yet as if his will dominated hers she found her head lifting against her own volition until she could no longer avoid his stare.
    “ Now I understand. ” The words were slowly spoken with that burr that seemed to make Duncan McRey ’ s most scathing words deceptively attractive. “ Well, Sister, all I can say is if your efficiency as a Sister only matches your efficiency in other things, you won ’ t hold this post for long .” He turned to Nurse Malling , who stood in wide-eyed astonishment at this wholly unexpected t u rn. “ You may go. I ’ ll be on the ward in a few moments. ”
    It was at least some relief to see Nurse Malling make a hurried exit, but Jill still felt not only miserably uncomfortable, but now, in addition, a hot wave of anger surged over her at the injustice of his remark. She bit back the retort which sprang to her lips; never in all her years in hospital had she been spoken to in this manner. She wouldn ’ t stand it, as Harriet had said; she didn ’ t have to work, and at that moment Jill felt like walking out of St. Joseph ’ s, never to return. Why should she be insulted and humiliated? If it cost her her career, what then? It would be well worth it to be able to fling back in this insufferable man ’ s face just as good as he gave! It was her sense of humour which at that tense moment saved Jill. The scene suddenly appeared unreal, ludicrous, her lips curved into a smile, and she found her tensed limbs comfortably relaxed. “ I hope you slept well last night, sir? ”
    “ So well that I ache in every limb—where in the devil is my coat? ” Duncan McRey demanded, turning towards the chair.
    “ I imagine it must be in the correct place, sir. Let me see, I suppose the linen room will be outside. ” Jill spoke with a note of deference and concern, but it was pretty clear that she was not deceiving her companion.
    “ You mean you ’ ve been messing about with things already. I ’ ll never be able to lay my hands on a damn thing. ” There was a note of suppressed anger in his voice, but it seemed to Jill that surprise was the dominant factor as she slipped past him to the cupboard and returned with a freshly laundered coat.
    “ Let me help you? ” Jill deftly avoided his outstretched hand and, stepping behind him, held the coat in position. She had to rise on tiptoe to ease it on to his broad shoulders; even that didn ’ t make her feel at a disadvantage. Nothing could at that moment have stilled her sense of elation. She was quite sure now that, as she had predicted to Harriet, she had won the first round!

 
    CHAPTER THREE
    There were several occasions during the next few days when Jill had good reason to wonder whether her feeling of confidence that first afternoon hadn ’ t been somewhat premature. Settling down to her new post at St. Joseph ’ s was proving an uphill job. Jill knew that it was never easy to adjust oneself to a new appointment, to memorize the requirements of each medical officer, to understand the various rules and regulations laid down by the matron in charge, and even to find one ’ s way about a large and straggling