Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-10-17
CHAPTER TEN

to more practical matters. What are
YOU going to do with the furniture?
Store it? Or sell it,"
Mary said doubtfully: II don't
know. What do you think 2"
Running a practical eye over it,
Nurse Hopkins said: "Some of it's
quite good and solid. You might store
it and furnish little flat of your own
in London some day. Get rid of the
rubbish. The chairs are good-so's
the table. And that's nice bureau
its the kind that's out of fashion,
but it's solid mahogany, and they say
Victorian stuff will come in again one
day. I'd get rid of that great ward
robe, if / were you. Too big to fit in
anywhere. Takes up half the bedroom
as it is" They made list between
them of pieces to be kept or let go.
Mary said: "The lawyers been
very kind-Mr. Seldom, | mean. He
advanced me some money, so that L
could get started with my training
fees and other expenses. 1t will be
month or so before the money can be
definitely made over to me, so he
said"
Nurse Hopkins said: "How do you
like your work."
"I think I shall like it very much.
It's rather strenuous at first. | come
home tired to death"
Nurse Hopkins said grimly: Il
thought I was going to die when l
was a probationer at st. Luke's. l
felt I could never stick it for three
years. But I did,"
They had sorted through the old
mans clothes. Now they came to a
tin box full of papers. Mary said:
eve must go through these, l sup
pose"
They sat down one on each side of
the table. Nurse Hopkins grumbled
as she started with handful. Eek
traordinary what a rubbish people
keep! Newspaper cuttings! Old let
tiers. All sorts of things!"
Mary said, unfolding document:
Here's Dads and NUNS marriage
certificate. At st. Adams, 1919. But,
Nurse" Mary's voice became sti-
fled.
The other looked up sharply. She
saw the distress in the girls eyes.
She said sharply: whats the mat
teri"
Mary Gerard said in a shaky
voice: "Don't you see? This is 1889
And Pm twenty-one. In 1919 l was
year old. That means-that means
that my father and mother weren't
married Embellishments"
Nurse Hopkins frowned. She SAID
robustly: "Well, after all, what OF
it? Don't go worrying about that, al
this time of day!"
"But, Nurse, I can't help it. Is that
why-do you think-my father never
liked me? Because, perhaps my
mother made him marry herr"
Nurse Hopkins hesitated. She Bit
her lip, then she said: at wasn't
quite like that, imagine" She paus-
ed. "Oh, we'll, if you're going to wor-
ry about it, you may as we'll know
the truth. You aren't Gerrard's
daughter at ALL"
Mary said: "Then that was why!'
Nurse Hopkins said: Maybe"
Mary said, a red spot suddenly
burning in each cheek: II suppose
it's wrong of me, but I'm glad! I've
always felt uncomfortable because ]
didn't care for my father, but if he
wasn't my father, well, that makes it
all right! How did you know about
it,"
Nurse Hopkins said: Gerard
talked about it good deal before he
died. I shut him up pretty sharply,
but he didn't care. Naturally, /
shouldn't have said anything to you
about it if this hadn't cropped up"
Mary said slowly: II wonder who
my real father was ="
Nurse Hopkins hesitated. She open
ed her mouth, then shut it again. She
appeared to be finding it hard to
make up her mind on some point.
Then shadow fell across the room,
and the two women looked round to
see Elinor Carlisle standing at the
window.
Elinor said: Woodworking"
Nurse Hopkins said: "Good- morn
ing, Miss Carlisle. Lovely day, isn't
it,"
Mary said: "Oh-good-morning,
Miss Elinor."
Elinor said: 1--WE been making
some sandwiches Won't YOU come