“At Hightower Station.”
“Oh, dear. It’s in exactly the opposite direction.”
“Opposite direction?”
“From Peterby’s. They rang me up just before you called. Some silly nonsense about an appendix — probably nothing but an upset stomach. But I promised to stop round directly, just in case.”
“Don’t tell me they still call you for general practice?”
“Emergencies, my dear. There aren’t many physicians in these parts. Fortunately, there aren’t many patients either.” Dr. Bracegirdle started to chuckle, then sobered. “Look now. You say you’re at the station. I’ll just send Miss Plummer down to fetch you in the wagon. Have you much luggage?”
“Only my travel-case. The rest is coming with the household goods, by boat.”
“Boat?”
“Didn’t I mention it when I wrote?”
“Yes, that’s right, you did. Well, no matter. Miss Plummer will be along for you directly.”
“I’ll be waiting in front of the platform.”
“What was that? Speak up, I can hardly hear you.”
“I said I’ll be waiting in front of the platform.”
“Oh.” Dr. Bracegirdle chuckled again. “Bit of a party going on here.”
“Shan’t I be intruding? I mean, since you weren’t expecting me—”
“Not at all! They’ll be leaving before long. You wait for Plummer.”
The phone clicked off and Natalie returned to the platform. In a surprisingly short time, the station-wagon appeared and skidded off the road to halt at the very edge of the tracks. A tall, thin, gray-haired woman, wearing a somewhat rumpled white uniform, emerged and beckoned to Natalie.
“Come along, my dear,” she called. “Here, I’ll just pop this in back.” Scooping up the bag, she tossed it into the rear of the wagon. “Now, in with you — and off we go!”
Scarcely waiting for Natalie to close the door after her, Miss Plummer gunned the motor and the car plunged back onto the road.
The speedometer immediately shot up to seventy, and Natalie flinched. Miss Plummer noticed her agitation at once.
“Sorry,” she said. “With Doctor out on call, I can’t be away too long.”
“Oh yes, the house-guests. He told me.”
“Did he now?” Miss Plummer took a sharp turn at a crossroads and the tires screeched in protest, but to no avail. Natalie decided to drown apprehension in conversation.
“What sort of a man is my uncle?” she asked.
“Have you never met him?”
“No. My parents moved to Australia when I was quite young. This is my first trip to England. In fact, it’s the first time I’ve left Canberra.”
“Folks with you?”
“They were in a motor smashup two months ago,” Natalie said. “Didn’t the Doctor tell you?”
“I’m afraid not — you see, I haven’t been with him very long.” Miss Plummer uttered a short bark and the car swerved wildly across the road. “Motor smashup, eh? Some people have no business behind the wheel. That’s what Doctor says.”
She turned and peered at Natalie. “I take it you’ve come to stay, then?”
“Yes, of course. He wrote me when he was appointed my guardian. That’s why I was wondering what he might be like. It’s so hard to tell from letters.” The thin-faced woman nodded silently, but Natalie had an urge to confide. “To tell the truth, I’m just a little bit edgy. I mean, I’ve never met a psychiatrist before.”
“Haven’t you, now?” Miss Plummer shrugged. “You’re quite fortunate. I’ve seen a few in my time. A bit on the know-it-all side, if you ask me. Though I must say, Dr. Bracegirdle is one of the best. Permissive, you know.”
“I understand he has quite a practice.”
“There’s no lack of patients for that sort of thing,” Miss Plummer observed. “Particularly amongst the well-to-do. I’d say your uncle has done himself handsomely. The house and all — but you’ll see.” Once again the wagon whirled into a sickening swerve and sped forward between the imposing gates of a huge driveway which led towards an enormous house set amidst a grove of trees in the distance. Through the shuttered windows Natalie caught sight of a faint beam of light — just enough to help reveal the ornate facade of her uncle’s home.
“Oh, dear,” she muttered, half to herself.
“What is it?”
“The guests — and it’s Saturday night. And here I am, all mussed from travel.”
“Don’t give it another thought,” Miss Plummer assured her. “There’s no formality here. That’s what Doctor told me when I came. It’s a home away from home.”
Miss Plummer barked and braked simultaneously, and the station-wagon came to an abrupt stop just behind an imposing black limousine.
“Out with you now!” With brisk efficiency, Miss Plummer lifted the bag from the rear seat and carried it up the steps, beckoning Natalie forward with a nod over her shoulder. She halted at the door and fumbled for a key.
“No sense knocking,” she said. “They’d never hear me.” As the door swung open her observation was amply confirmed. The background noise which Natalie had noted over the telephone now formed a formidable foreground. She stood there, hesitant, as Miss Plummer swept forward across the threshold.
“Come along, come along!”
Obediently, Natalie entered, and as Miss Plummer shut the door behind her, she blinked with eyes unaccustomed to the brightness of the interior.
She found herself standing in a long, somewhat bare hallway. Directly ahead of her was a large staircase; at an angle between the railing and the wall was a desk and chair. To her left was a dark panelled door — evidently leading to Dr. Bracegirdle’s private office, for a small brass plate was affixed to it, bearing his name. To her right was a huge open parlor, its windows heavily curtained and shuttered against the night. It was from here that the sounds of sociability echoed.
Natalie started down the hall toward the stairs. As she did so, she caught a glimpse of the parlor. Fully a dozen guests eddied about a large table, talking and gesturing with the animation of close acquaintance — with one another, and with the contents of the lavish array of bottles gracing the tabletop. A sudden whoop of laughter indicated that at least one guest had abused the Doctor’s hospitality.
Natalie passed the entry hastily, so as not to be observed, then glanced behind her to make sure that Miss Plummer was following with her bag. Miss Plummer was indeed following, but her hands were empty. And as Natalie reached the stairs, Miss Plummer shook her head.
“You didn’t mean to go up now, did you?” she murmured. “Come in and introduce yourself.”
“I thought I might freshen up a bit first.”
“Let me go on ahead and get your room in order. Doctor didn’t give me notice, you know.”
“Really, it’s not necessary. I could do with a wash—”
“Doctor should be back any moment now. Do wait for him.” Miss Plummer grasped Natalie’s arm, and with the same speed and expedition she had bestowed on driving, she steered the girl forward into the lighted room.
“Here’s Doctor’s niece,” she announced. “Miss Natalie Rivers, from Australia.”
Several heads turned in Natalie’s direction, though Miss Plummer’s voice had scarcely penetrated the general conversational din. A short, jolly-looking fat man bobbed toward Natalie, waving a half-empty glass.
“All the way from Australia, eh?” He extended his goblet. “You must be thirsty. Here, take this, I’ll get another.” And before Natalie could reply, he turned and plunged back into the group around the table.
“Major Hamilton,” Miss Plummer whispered. “A dear soul, really. Though I’m afraid he’s just a wee bit squiffy.”
As Miss Plummer moved away, Natalie glanced uncertainly at the glass in her hand. She was not quite sure where to dispose of it.