chapter one . the hospital was literally sited at the cross-roads , though set back from the street by a drive of about a hundred and fifty yards and cushioned by rounded shrubs and a belt of trees which helped to absorb the noise of the traffic . there was a large new roundabout and a sign which gave the distances to both Edinburgh and London , Great Yarmouth and Liverpool , for besides being at the cross-roads , St John &apos;s was also sited roughly at the heart of England , the highways resembling vast arteries pouring the flood tide of commerce and private pleasure in four entirely different directions . Diana Wills often sat on the brand new seat outside the hospital gates and thought vagrant thoughts . at one time she had watched the workmen constructing the roundabout , which was to put St John &apos;s casualty department out of operation - in theory , at least . she would think of herself as a stranger in these parts studying these cross-roads . which one to take ? if I were a tramp I would simply blow a feather , she decided , rather envying the gentleman of the road his freedom of decision , and wishing life would sometimes allow serious-minded women doctors to blow a feather and follow its airy directions accordingly . if I were needing a job I &apos;d go to London , of course , she went on . there are all sorts of wonderful jobs in London and I could take my pick , whereas in Yarmouth one has to know something about fishing and in Liverpool they &apos;d want sea-farers . I do n&apos;t think I &apos;d go to Edinburgh unless I was a Scot and wanting to get home , or perhaps a student studying to be a doctor , and I already know all about that . being at a cross-roads was unsettling , she also decided . one felt as though one had n&apos;t arrived anywhere . true , St John &apos;s was on the outskirts of Farlingham , a small , prosperous north midlands town , but apart from the inhabitants everybody else regarded Farlingham as a spot where one could fill up the car , have a cup of tea and go on to somewhere else with vastly more to offer in the way of opportunity and entertainment . it was getting too cool for sitting on the seat by early October , Di decided , as she collected her various items of shopping - she never carried a basket - and prepared to go inside for tea . she felt chilled to the bone and somewhat depressed . normally she looked forward to her days off , an expedition into town , a visit either to her hairdresser or the cinema and Nigel dashing out to join her for either luncheon or tea in his screaming red M.G . she was engaged to Nigel , had been for two years . sometimes they talked on the theme of when we get married , and then all was wonderful , and perhaps it had only been a slip of the tongue when Nigel had said , only last evening , if we get married , old girl , you &apos;ll have to stop that lark , I can tell you ! she could n&apos;t remember what they had been talking about or which lark she would have to stop , only that significant tiny word shouted into her very soul a horn of warning , and with it was coupled a disembodied fragment of information , which now took on an ominous significance : Nigel had been seen in Farlingham on an occasion he had sworn he had been standing in for Luke Parsons at his surgery in Little Phelpham . now Nigel had every right to go where he liked during his off-duty periods when she was not free ; this much they had conceded one to the other . they rarely found they were off duty together , and the situation would have been intolerable had there not been some give and take about their relationship . so when Nigel had told her about taking Luke &apos;s evening surgery she had said , bless you ! I hope Luke is suitably grateful , darling . oh , well , he shrugged diffidently , I like the work . one gets plenty of variety and it &apos;s a change . Nigel was the hospital &apos;s junior medical Officer . you will n&apos;t be free about nine , I suppose , to meet me for supper somewhere ? she had asked hopefully . hardly likely , my sweet . Luke &apos;s surgery goes on for hours . if they get in before eight-thirty , even though they &apos;re standing on one another&apos;s toes , I &apos;ve got to see &apos;em . if I am free , though , I &apos;ll give you a ring , O.K ? O.K , she had replied readily . so how could Nigel have been at the load of trouble roadhouse , dancing with a blonde at eight-thirty that very evening ? no , she told Phil Gubbins , a junior houseman , it was n&apos;t Nigel you saw , my lad . it was Nigel &apos;s car , anyway . NUF 121 . he probably loaned his car to somebody , Phil . he &apos;s always doing that . young Gubbins shrugged . I did n&apos;t see his face , Di , but it certainly looked like Nigel from the back . D.j and all . of course such as I could n&apos;t afford to go into the load of trouble . neither can Nigel , smiled Diana . he &apos;s saving up to get married . remember ? I remember , quipped the houseman , meaning no offence , but does he ? that blonde was something . anybody I know ? she smiled . I think so . I got a good look at her . but if Nigel was n&apos;t there it is n&apos;t important , is it ? no , Di said immediately . it is n&apos;t at all important . but after that slight slip of the tongue on Nigel &apos;s part she had realised it was important enough for her to have remembered , and it was as though a red mist veiled her usually clear sight and made her think there was an abyss immediately ahead . Nigel , she had besought him , you know that evening you took Luke Parson &apos;s surgery and there was a woman with a cyst on her ear &amp;hellip; ? ye-es ? he lowered his eyes and kissed her on the mouth , an act of devotion he did n&apos;t over-indulge . what about it , my sweet ? well , she laughed suddenly in an upsurging of relief , that stupid Gubbins boy thought he saw you at the load of trouble . with a blonde , too . imagine ! Nigel was frowning . he looked distinguished when he frowned ; boyishly handsome at other times . Gubbins ? Gubbins ? he fretted . who &apos;s he ? though Diana knew the name of every member of the staff , distinguished or not , Nigel often had to think hard to sort them out . he &apos;s the carrotty lad , is n&apos;t he ? he now demanded . what was he doing at the load of trouble ? oh , he was n&apos;t . his motor-bike had broken down outside and he noticed your car and then you dancing with this blonde . really ? Nigel cocked one eyebrow . actually she was brunette at the roots and I had a redhead on the other arm . he would have told you this , too ? no , she laughed . he did n&apos;t actually see you . because it was your car I suppose he presumed it was you , all dressed up in your dinner suit . my white or my black ? Nigel enquired . now I wonder which I wore at that particular surgery ? you are a fool , darling , Di said happily . I shall take great pleasure in telling that young man exactly what you were doing that evening . no , do n&apos;t , he said , after kissing her again . I rather like to have the housemen think of me as a two-timing Don Juan . I &apos;m such a dull fellow , really . dull ? she could n&apos;t believe it . self-deprecation was not one of Nigel &apos;s usual attributes . you need your holiday , darling . I only wish I could go with you ! Doctor Wills , if you &apos;re making improper suggestions &amp;hellip; ? it would make me more interesting , I suppose ? she enquired archly . no , it would n&apos;t ! he almost snapped , surprising her . you sounded like somebody else for a moment there . it does n&apos;t become you to behave like a - a tart , Di . Nigel - ! she gasped . I did n&apos;t mean to behave like anything of the kind . I was only joking . well , do n&apos;t . it &apos;s miserable enough my having to take my leave in the autumn without you trying to be bright and gay about it . I &apos;m going with a shooting party . what else can I do at this time of year ? I can n&apos;t ask you up because it &apos;s a strictly stag affair . I know . I did n&apos;t expect &amp;hellip; . well , do n&apos;t keep hinting , then . you wish you could come with me ; you hope I &apos;ll miss you ; you can n&apos;t imagine the hospital without me for three weeks , etcetera , etcetera ! Diana &apos;s face was drained of colour . she was almost angry for a moment . am I expected not to mind your going away for three weeks ? she asked simply . he looked at her , noting , as for the first time , the pansy blue of the eyes that were his fianc&amp;eacute;e &apos;s best feature . her hair was of a chestnut brown shade , which glinted with gold in the evenings , he had noticed . her figure was small and exquisite , like a schoolgirl &apos;s still , and he admired her legs , which the male sex were inclined to regard first . I would mind if you did n&apos;t he told her grimly , and tugged her fiercely into his arms . you &apos;re right , pet . I do need this leave . I &apos;m bad-tempered and broody and going out with brash blondes . I do n&apos;t deserve you . darling ! her voice caressed him . moments like this make all the waiting worth while . when we &apos;re married we will n&apos;t have these explosions of emotion , will we ? no , he eyed her strangely . I wish we were married , Di . like a patient wishes his operation was over . again her laughter trilled . marriage is n&apos;t as bad as an operation , Nigel ! is n&apos;t it ? he rose and smoothed himself down . ask any bridegroom-to-be . anyhow , that particular problem is n&apos;t looming at the moment , thank God ! problem &amp;hellip; ? looming ... ? are we discussing a marriage or a burial ? she asked , hardly believing he could be serious . surely marrying me is n&apos;t going to be all that bad ? if it is - she laughed uncertainly - you can have your ring back . she loosened the half-hoop of diamonds on her left hand third finger and held it out to him , still playfully . without a glimmer of amusement in his own eyes , however , he took it , looking moodily beyond her . perhaps it &apos;s as well if you do n&apos;t wear it for a bit , Di , he told her . but I want it ! she protested . it &apos;s my ring . you just gave it back to me . I did n&apos;t ! I was joking . you know I was joking , Nigel . you should n&apos;t joke about serious things like engagements . do n&apos;t be such a baby ! they were going to have an open quarrel any minute , and she knew it . almost in desperation she appealed , will you meet me at the gate , four o&apos;clock tomorrow ? why ? he enquired , combing his thick , tawny hair . to bring me up for tea , of course . I just thought . I &apos;ll see , he told her , and suddenly seized her in an embrace which really hurt . without your ring it &apos;s just like kissing somebody else &apos;s girl , he decided wickedly , and kissed her again , somewhat startled to receive a sharp slap for his pains . if I were somebody else &apos;s girl that &apos;s what you &apos;d get , she flashed at him , and so had left him , on her dignity and not seeing the look of admiration and revelation which had followed her slim young figure out of his sight . mine , Nigel Lester had decided with a sigh of satisfaction , and then regarded the ring which he retrieved from his pocket . at a price , he concluded , with some bitterness . thus had they parted the previous evening and now Diana was trailing up the gravelled drive to the hospital alone . of course one could n&apos;t say for certain when a doctor would be free during the day ; tea was served from four until five-thirty in the residents &apos; common-room , which proved the elasticity of medical commitments . something had cropped up which required Nigel &apos;s attention , she was convinced , or he would have granted her small request to be met at the gates . they often had such a rendezvous , for there was just time to smoke a cigarette , if one walked slowly , between road and hospital . 