Part 23 (1/2)
”You've been in bed!”
Father Constantine coughed.
”That is why. You have no idea, Countess, how supremely indifferent a young woman is towards a dozing patient. And I doze a good deal nowadays. Ian, dear boy, comes to see me. And so does the Miss.”
Minnie had to restrain an impulse to go in and shake her patient. She heard footsteps outside, then Ian's voice at the old man's door.
”Is Major Healy here?” he asked.
”He is checking those American potatoes with the Miss,” the priest answered.
”Oh! I'll come for a chat later on.” And off he went.
Minnie could hear the Countess and the priest giggle. They were still enjoying their joke when came another rap. The surgeon this time.
Minnie went up to the ward, bursting with indignation at the priest's duplicity. The idea of his ”foxing” when she supposed him sound asleep!
She thought it very deceitful of him.
Healy was a conscientious man. Though very busy that evening, he found time to redeem his promise to Father Constantine, and talk to Minnie.
She cut him short with:
”Yes. The old tower has spoilt one of the best specimens of architecture left in Poland, and the old priest's head has been smashed without either the Kaiser or the Grand Duke warning him. And I shall get my head broken unless I go home at once.”
He fairly gasped.
”How on earth----” he began.
”I've heard it before. I expect that Father Constantine has asked you to help him. I shouldn't wonder if he asked you what the American government would say if my head gets broken. Looking at you and knowing your personal sympathies with the Allies, I suppose you think I am able to take care of myself.”
”Well, as you mention it----”
He gave her an appreciative glance. She was good-looking and he admired her ”s.p.u.n.k,” to say nothing about her bright eyes and rosy cheeks.
Taking courage, she went on gaily:
”And the priest probably used his old joke about his head being harder than a woman's.”
”He did say----”
”Major Healy, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm not going home for any of these arguments, which I've heard before. You may have some of your own up your sleeve, if so----”
”I hadn't thought of any, but----”
”No, you've been so busy that you trusted to the old ones. It would take something better to send me back to London.”
”There's Moscow,” he mentioned. ”It's nearer and quite safe.” He rather liked the idea of having her as traveling companion. She would be entertaining and was good to look upon.
”Nor Moscow either.”
”Warsaw?”
”Not even Warsaw. I'm going to stop here, where I'm wanted.”