the doctor &apos;s daughters . by Anne Weale . illustrated by Denis Alford . it was like a pebble thrown into a quiet , still pool when Daniel Elliot met the doctor &apos;s daughters ! the story so far . for three years after the death of Sir Robert Elliot , Branford Hall lay empty and the overgrown grounds became a favourite haunt of Rachel Burney , eldest of the local doctor &apos;s three daughters . Rachel had kept house for her widowed father , her younger sisters , Carola and Suzy , and their fluttery aunt , Rachel Burney , ever since leaving art school some years previously . one sunny May morning Rachel woke from a daydream in the Branford orchard - she had been wondering whether she would ever marry Edward Forrester whom she had known since childhood - to find herself being scrutinised by a tall , bronzed man . in her consternation and not realising he was Sir Robert &apos;s Canadian grandson , Daniel Elliot , she accused him of trespassing ! later , listening to the Canadian &apos;s sarcastic comments as she accompanied him through the dusty , neglected rooms of the Hall , Rachel became convinced he was the most provoking , arrogant man she had ever met &amp;hellip; . at tea she was filled with dismay when Doctor Burney suddenly announced that he had invited the new owner of the Hall to dinner that evening . twenty-year-old Carola , the beauty of the family , returned home delighted because she had been appointed house model of the store where she worked . tubby , fourteen-year-old Suzy was frankly envious . promptly at six-thirty there was a knock on the front door . Rachel opened it - and was struck dumb . gone was the casually dressed Canadian she had thought a backwoodsman - this Daniel Elliot was immaculately tailored &amp;hellip; . the story now continues . although Rachel had spent most of her life in a neighbourhood where even rich people wore ancient tweeds and faded raincoats , she could not fail to recognise the faultless cut of the lounge suit which now replaced the disreputable slacks Daniel Elliot had worn earlier that day . she knew , too , that the immaculate cream silk shirt and olive green gum-twill tie must have been bought at some very expensive shirtmakers . perching on the edge of the sofa , she tried vainly to think of something to say and was relieved when the visitor broke the silence by asking permission to smoke . oh , yes , please do , she said hastily , looking about for the ivory cigarette box that her father - himself a pipe-smoker - kept for guests . but before she could discover where it had been moved , Elliot produced a slim silver case and offered it . n-no , thank you . the foolish stammer made her even more self-conscious . my father says you are staying at the Saracen , Mr Elliot . is it comfortable ? the couple who run it now have only been there a short time . the hotel side is quite new . he was flicking his black enamelled lighter and she noticed that his hands , mahogany dark against the pale cream cuffs of his shirt , were clinically clean , the nails pared short at the tips of his long lean fingers . his cuff-links were plain gold rectangles and he did not wear a signet ring . yes , extremely comfortable , thanks , he answered quietly . my room overlooks the village green . I am told that the stream running through the centre of it has quite a history . the goose beck ? yes , it has . people used to do all their washing in it years ago . it widens into a pool up near the church . that &apos;s where they ducked witches in the middle ages . he drank some sherry , his eyes disconcertingly keen as he watched her . I imagine you were not very pleased to hear I was coming tonight , he remarked bluntly . Rachel swallowed , unable to meet his glance . I think I should apologise for saying what I did to you this morning , she said , flushing . it was very rude of me . on the contrary , I found it refreshingly frank . you look very attractive when you are angry , he added , with a hint of mockery . then , glancing round the room : where is the hound of the Baskervilles tonight ? she stiffened . Bolster is in the garden , she said coolly , furious that the lazy , almost caressing note in his voice had succeeded in heightening her colour . you know , I am beginning - he broke off , rising to his feet as Miss Burney and Suzy entered . Rachel made the introductions and left her aunt to take over the conversation . she was pouring a sherry for Aunt Florence when the door swung open and Carola made one of her grand entrances . after contributing a couple of pounds to the family exchequer - some of which she invariably borrowed back before the end of the week - Carola spent all her earnings on clothes and cosmetics . every Friday saw some addition to her wardrobe . if no dress , shoes , or handbag had appealed to her , then she would buy jewellery , make-up or nylons . to be up to the minute was as essential to Carola as eating or sleeping . she pored over fashion magazines with the same professional absorption that her father gave to his medical journals or Miss Burney to horoscopes . tonight she was wearing her latest acquisition , a dress of misty blue-green chiffon with a sleeveless bloused bodice and a flurry of pleats from the waist . her eyelids shimmered with silvery aquamarine shadow and her lipstick was a subtle amber-rose . she looked willowy and fragile and a delicious scent wafted from her as she moved . Elliot stood up , his eyebrows tilting appreciatively . a little put out by the interruption , Miss Burney said : this is Carola , my second niece , Mr Elliot . Carola smiled and held out a small cool hand , her silver bracelets tinkling . how do you do ? welcome to England , Mr Elliot , she said charmingly . then , with mischievous candour : I must say you are not a bit what we expected . he laughed . what did you expect ? Carola sank gracefully into a chair and crossed her legs , revealing so much knee that Aunt Florence , who disapproved of recent fashion trends , made anxious signals to her to pull her skirt down . we were n&apos;t really expecting anyone at all after so long , Carola said , ignoring the signs . but you are not at all like your grandfather . he used to stump round the village with an enormous stick and growl at people through his moustache . I &apos;m sure he never growled at you . Daniel looked amused . oh , yes , he did . I was terrified of him . she gave a reminiscent shiver . then , twirling imaginary whiskers , she did a very creditable imitation of Sir Robert &apos;s deep bass voice . really , Carola ! I am surprised at you ! Miss Burney protested indignantly , her long thin nose turning pink with mortification at this irreverent piece of mimicry . she looked apologetically at their guest . your grandfather was a most charming old gentleman , Mr Elliot , and greatly respected , she assured him earnestly . I dare say he was milder than he looked , he said carelessly . I believe he made several attempts to patch things up with my father but none of them was successful . what did they have a row about ? Carola asked . everyone knows there was a colossal bust-up , but no one knows why . before Elliot could reply , Doctor Burney came in and Rachel slipped away to put the finishing touches to the supper table . she took little part in the conversation during the meal , in the course of which it emerged that Daniel Elliot could pilot a plane , had travelled all over the world and had an informed taste in art , literature and music . by the time they had reached the coffee stage , it was sickeningly clear to Rachel that , far from being an uncouth product of the backwoods as she had supposed - and perhaps indicated by her manner to him - Daniel Elliot knew ten times more of the world than anyone she had met . may I give you a hand with the washing up ? he asked her , as they rose to return to the sitting-room . thank you , but I would really rather do it myself , she said politely . Rachel is the madly domesticated type . you would probably put everything back in the wrong place and then she would have to re-organise them . you hate things to be out of order , do n&apos;t you , sweetie ? Carola said teasingly . Rachel smiled , wondering why a passion for tidiness always sounded such a petty , old-maidish foible . I do a bit , she admitted evenly . I &apos;ll make some more coffee . I will n&apos;t be long . she had just dried the last plate and was setting clean coffee cups on a tray , when a dark-haired , spectacled young man put his head through the kitchen window . coming for a walk , Rachel ? he asked . oh , hello , Edward ! no , I can n&apos;t tonight , she said regretfully . we have a visitor . come in and pay your respects to the new lord of the manor . he is in the sitting-room with the others . yes , I heard the prodigal grandson had finally turned up . Edward came into the kitchen . it &apos;s all over the village . what is he like ? quite pleasant , Rachel said evasively , going to the pantry for more milk . Edward leaned against the dresser , watching her . he was tall and lanky , with a thin , clever face and slightly stooped shoulders . as a small boy he had never fitted into the rowdy gang of village lads and later , when he went to Branford grammar School and walked away with most of the academic laurels , his friends had been similarly quiet and studious . oddly , Rachel , then a pigtailed tomboy , had liked him better than the more boisterous youths . I say , Rachel - he broke off , fiddling with the strap of his wristwatch . mm , what ? she asked , wishing the kettle would hurry up and boil . I rather wanted to see you tonight . you sound very mysterious . what &apos;s up ? he hesitated . well , for one thing , I &apos;ve been promoted . oh , Edward , how lovely ! congratulations ! he flushed . it is pretty encouraging and , of course , my income will improve considerably . that is why I wanted you to be the first to know . Rachel smiled at him . I always knew you would do great things , she said affectionately . and then , because it seemed the appropriate gesture and because she had known him for so long , she laid her hands lightly on his shoulders and reached up to kiss his cheek . Edward &apos;s reaction was to clasp her eagerly round the waist and return the kiss so heartily that she was too much taken aback to do anything but submit . when , after a moment , he released her , she was too breathless and shaken to free herself and could only stand dazedly in the circle of his arms , trying to decide whether she had liked it . oh , Rachel , do n&apos;t you see , I can ask you to marry me now , he said huskily . you do care for me , dearest ? you will say yes ? Rachel stared at him blankly . she had known for years that Edward was fond of her and that everyone assumed they would eventually marry . in a vague , wait-till-it-happens way , she had assumed it herself . but now that he had actually proposed , she discovered that she had no notion how to answer him . although she was twenty-four , she still thought of marriage as something in the future . I do n&apos;t know , Edward , she answered lamely . I &apos;m not sure . it &apos;s all so - so sudden . and then , as she searched for words to explain that she was touched and flattered , but that it was n&apos;t a question which could be settled in a split second , a movement in the doorway caught her eye and she turned her head , a wave of furious and embarrassed colour suffusing her face and throat . calmly , his mouth twitching , his eyes brilliant with undisguised amusement , Daniel Elliot strolled forward . I came to carry the tray for you , he said politely . I seem to have chosen an inopportune moment . for what seemed an eternity , but was actually about fifteen seconds , there was a strained silence . anyone with a skin thinner than a rhinoceros hide would have muttered an apology and hastily retreated , Rachel thought furiously . 