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practice, and his heart beat with satisfaction.
‘Now I’m really going to begin life,’ he thought.
Next day he went to the secretary’s office to put his name
down for one of the hospital appointments. The secretary
was a pleasant little man with a black beard, whom Philip
had always found very affable. He congratulated him on his
success, and then said:
‘I suppose you wouldn’t like to do a locum for a month
on the South coast? Three guineas a week with board and
lodging.’
‘I wouldn’t mind,’ said Philip.
‘It’s at Farnley, in Dorsetshire. Doctor South. You’d have
to go down at once; his assistant has developed mumps. I
believe it’s a very pleasant place.’
There was something in the secretary’s manner that puz-
zled Philip. It was a little doubtful.
‘What’s the crab in it?’ he asked.
The secretary hesitated a moment and laughed in a con-
ciliating fashion.
‘Well, the fact is, I understand he’s rather a crusty, funny
old fellow. The agencies won’t send him anyone any more.
He speaks his mind very openly, and men don’t like it.’
‘But d’you think he’ll be satisfied with a man who’s only
just qualified? After all I have no experience.’
‘He ought to be glad to get you,’ said the secretary diplo-
matically.
Philip thought for a moment. He had nothing to do for
the next few weeks, and he was glad of the chance to earn a
bit of money. He could put it aside for the holiday in Spain