Читать книгу Esmeralda - Бетти Нилс - Страница 2

“I have a private practice in Leiden. I employ two nurses, and one, Willi, is going to Australia to see her brother. She will be away…for a month or six weeks, and I wondered if you would care to take over her job for that time.”

“I can’t speak Dutch,” claimed Esmeralda.

“I daresay Loveday will help you there. You won’t need more than a few routine phrases.”

Her impulse was to say yes at once, for it would be just the thing to fill her days usefully, but she was a practical girl and could see several snags.

“I’ve no uniform. And where will I live?”

“Willi will let you borrow hers, and she has a very small house near my rooms.”

She said contritely, “I’m sorry, Dr. Bamstra. You’ve been so kind to me.” She looked down at her plastered leg with the cotton sock pulled over the toes to keep them clean.

“Call me Thimo.”

“Thimo, then, though I don’t think I should.”

“You find me too elderly?” His voice was bland.

“Don’t be silly. Of course not, but you are a senior consultant at the hospital and I’m your patient….”