CREDIT TO BETTY NEELS
A CHRISTMAS WISH
by BETTY NEELS
CHAPTER ONE
The dim (not bright) and dusty Records Office, tucked (put) - away in the depths ( lowest point) of the_hospital, was hardly a cheerful place in which to work, but the girl_going back and forth between the long rows of shelves (drop) sounded -cheerful_enough, singing a medley of tunes as she sorted (class) the folders into their_right places with the ease (easiness) of long practice.__She was a tall girl with a splendid (marvelous) shape, a beautiful face and a head_of tawny (orange) hair which glowed (shine) under the neon lights, wearing a blouse and_skirt and a cardigan which, although well-fitting (tight), lacked any_pretensions (posing) to high fashion.__Presently, her arms full, she went to the table against one of the_white washed walls and laid (put) them down, still singing--quite loudly since_there was nobody there but herself, and she was far from the busy_wards.__"Oh, what a beautiful morning..." she trilled (vibration), very slightly out of_tune, and then stopped as the door was opened.__The door was a long way from the table; she had ample (full) time to study the_man coming towards her. He came unhurriedly, very tall and large in a_beautifully tailored (modified) suit, fair hair already silver at the edges (limits) and a_handsome face with heavy-lidded (sleepy) eyes. She hadn't seen him before, but_then she seldom if ever went up to the hospital.__When he was near enough she said cheerfully, "Hello, do you want_something?"__His good morning was uttered (spoken) in a quiet voice. He laid (put down) a folder on the_table.__"Yes, I asked for Eliza Brown's notes, not Elizabeth Brown's."__"Oh, so sorry. I'll get them." She picked up the discarded (not needed) folder and_went down one of the narrow (thin) passages (way) between the shelves, found the_folder, replaced the discarded one and went back to the table.__"Here it is. I hope it wasn't too inconvenient for you..."__"It was." His voice was dry, and she went a little pink.__"Do you work here alone?"__The? Oh, no. Debbie has got the day off to go to the dentist. "__"And do you always sing as you work?"__"Why not? It's quiet down here, you know, and dim and dusty.__If I didn't sing I might start screaming. "__"Then why not look for other employment?" He was leaning against the_wall, in no hurry to be gone.__She gave him a tolerant look.__"We--that is, clerks and such like—are two a penny (money). Once we get a job_we hang on (hold on) to it..."__"Until you marry?" he suggested in his quiet voice.__"Well, yes."__He picked up the folder.__"Thank you. Miss...?"__"Harding." She smiled at him, for he seemed rather nice a new member_of the medical staff; a surgeon (doctor), since Mrs. Eliza Brown was on the_surgical landing. He nodded (move up and down) pleasantly (nicely) and she watched him walk away;_she wasn't likely to see him again. A pity, she reflected, making a_neat (tidy) pile (mound) of her folders ready for someone to fetch (bring) them from_Outpatients.__The nurse from Outpatients was in a bad temper. Sister, she confided-mengadu,_was in a mood and there was no pleasing ( lovely) her, and the waiting room was_stuffed to the ceiling.__"And I've got a date this evening," she moaned (mutter).__"At the rate we're going we'll be here all night, as well as all_afternoon."__"Perhaps Sister will have a date too," comforted Miss Harding.__"Her? She's old almost forty, I should think."__The nurse flounced (stomp) away, and was replaced almost at once by a tall,_thin girl with a long face.__"Hi, Olivia." She had a nice grin (smile).__"How's trade? I want Lacey Cutter's notes. They're missing. I bet_Debbie got our lot out yesterday she may look like everyone's dream of_a fairy on the Christmas tree, but she's not heart and soul in her job,_is she?"__Olivia went across to the nearest shelf and began poking around.__"She's really rather a dear and so young... Here you are..."__"Well, you sound like her granny (grandmother). She must be all of nineteen or_so."__"Twenty, and I'm twenty-seven--on the verge (edge) of twentyeight."__"Time you settled down. How's the boyfriend?"__"Very well, thank you. We'll have to wait for a bit, though."__"That's rotten (bad) bad luck. I say, there's a new man on Surgical--a_consultant all the way from somewhere or other in Holland--come to_reorganise Mrs. Brown's insides. It seems he's