_The retreat in which_ CINDERELLA _is to be found two months later
has been described to us by our policeman with becoming awe. It
seems to be a very pleasant house near the sea, and possibly in
pre-war days people were at ease in it. None of that, says the
policeman emphatically, with_ DR. BODIE _in charge. He could
wink discreetly at_ DR. BODIE _in absence, but was prepared to
say on oath that no one ever winked at her when she was present.
In the old days he had been more than a passive observer of the
suffragette in action, had even been bitten by them in the way of
business; had not then gone into the question of their suitability
for the vote, but liked the pluck of them; had no objection to his
feelings on the woman movement being summed up in this way, that
he had vaguely disapproved of their object, but had admired their
methods. After knowing_ DR. BODIE _he must admit that his views
about their object had undergone a change; was now a whole-hearted
supporter, felt in his bones that_ DR. BODIE _was born to command:
astonishing thing about her that she did it so natural-like. She
was not in the least mannish or bullying; she was a very ladylike
sort of person, a bit careful about the doing of her hair, and the
set of her hat, and she had a soft voice, though what you might
call an arbitrary manner. Very noticeable the way she fixed you
with her steely eye. In appearance she was very like her room
at the retreat, or the room was very like her; everything in
cruel good order, as you might say; an extraordinarily decorous
writing table near the centre, the sort of table against which
you instinctively stood and waited to make your deposition; the
friendliest thing in the room (to a policeman) was the book-cases
with wire doors, because the books looked through the wires at you
in a homely way like prisoners. It was a sunny room at times, but
this did not take away from its likeness to the doctor, who could
also smile on occasion._
_Into this room_ MR. BODIE _is shown on a summer afternoon by a
maid with no nonsense about her in working hours._
MAID (_who knows that male visitors should be impressed at once_).
This way, sir; I shall see whether Dr. Bodie is disengaged.
BODIE (_doggedly_). _Miss_ Bodie.
MAID (_with firm sweetness_). Dr. Bodie, sir. What name shall I say?
BODIE (_wincing_). Mr. Bodie. Her brother.
MAID (_unmoved_). I shall tell Dr. Bodie, sir.
BODIE (_a fighter to the last_). Miss Bodie.
MAID. Dr. Bodie, sir.
(_He is surveying the room with manly disapproval when
his sister appears and greets him. She is all that the
policeman has said of her, and more; if we did not have a
heroine already we would choose_ DR. BODIE. _At the same
time it cannot be denied that she is enough to make any
brother wince. For instance, immediately she has passed
him the time of day, she seems to be considering his case.
Perhaps this is because she has caught him frowning at her
stethescope. There is certainly a twinkle somewhere about
her face. Before he can step back indignantly she raises
one of his eyelids and comes to a conclusion._)
DR. BODIE. Oh dear! Well, Dick, it’s entirely your own fault.
(MR. BODIE _has a curious trick of kicking backwards with
one foot when people take liberties with him, and a liberty
has been taken with him now._)
Kick away Dick, but you needn’t pretend that you have no faith in
me as a medical man; for when you are really ill you always take
the first train down here. In your heart I am the only doctor you
believe in.
BODIE. Stuff, Nellie.
DR. BODIE. Then why did you put Cinderella under my care?
BODIE. I didn’t know where else to send her when she was discharged
from the hospital. Had to give her a chance of picking up.
(_Thawing._) It was good of you to give her board and lodging.
DR. BODIE (_sitting down to her day-book_). Not at all. I’ll send
you in a whacking bill for her presently.
BODIE (_kicking_). Well, I’ve come all this way to see her. How is
she getting on, Nellie?
DR. BODIE. She is in the garden. I daresay you can see her from the
window.
BODIE. I see some men only; I believe they are wounded Tommies.
DR. BODIE. Yes. There’s a Convalescent Home down here. That is part
of my job. Do the men look as if they were gathering round anything?
BODIE. They do.
DR. BODIE. Ah! Then that is Cinderella. She is now bossing the
British Army, Dick.
BODIE. I might have guessed it. (_Chuckling._) Does she charge a
penny?
DR. BODIE. Not to the military.
BODIE. Nellie, I have had some inquiries made lately about her
parents.
DR. BODIE. She doesn’t know much about them herself.
BODIE. No, and we needn’t tell her this. Her mother—ah well, poor
soul!—and the father was a very bad egg. And from that soil,
Nellie, this flower has sprung. Nobody to tend it. Can’t you see
little Cinderella with her watering-can carefully bringing up
herself. I wish I could paint that picture.
(_Perhaps_ DR. BODIE _sees the picture even more clearly
than he does_.)