To May’s distress, on the Monday following the dinner party and long before she was due for a half-day off, she was summoned to Matron, who told her that Jameson would be returning from convalescence on Saturday, so May would be starting nights on Abraham Ward at 9pm that Friday. Even Matron’s unusual condescension in telling her that Sister Elizabeth was ‘really quite pleased with your work, Nurse Winton,’ failed to comfort May. She thought of the possibility of asking for a prearranged two-till-five one afternoon – but knew it was scarcely possible. The Consultants on Elizabeth Ward did afternoon operations and ward rounds, and as Acting Staff Nurse she was needed then; besides there was always the likelihood of being delayed in coming off duty.
May returned to Elizabeth feeling very downcast. As she reported back Sister said, ‘Matron told me this morning, Nurse. Now don’t let me forget to release you at midday on Friday, so you can get some sleep before your first night.’
May’s head jerked up. ‘No, I won’t Sister – thank you so much.’
Sister Elizabeth looked rather surprised, but was too busy to waste time speculating about May’s abrupt change of mood. May went off cheerfully to attend to Louie.
‘You look pleased, Nurse – just got yer Sunday dress back from the pawnshop?’ Louie screeched with glee at her own joke, while a laughing May tickled her toes until she squealed for mercy.
May wrote a hurried letter to Archie and waited on tenterhooks until a telegram arrived: ‘Dock gates. One-thirty. Knock twice and ask for sugar.’ May crumpled it up and threw it into the wastepaper basket – then retrieved it hastily and hid it in her Bible, in case one of Home Sister’s spies should find it and report back that Winton, M.M.C., was planning to break bounds instead of going obediently to bed for the afternoon – one couldn’t be too careful.
May was up before the rising bell on Friday morning, looking over her wardrobe. What did one wear for an afternoon at the Docks? Lady Clarence’s careful training was useless here. It must be a trotteuse skirt; but she had several of those. She gazed longingly at a fine linen costume of the palest blue, but she didn’t want to have to spend the whole afternoon trying to avoid dirty marks, so she pushed it back and settled on a well-cut but serviceable navy serge, and put it ready at the front.
Sister Elizabeth was as good as her word. She dismissed May at midday with a brief word of praise which brought the colour to May’s cheeks. Louie said a rather tearful farewell, then May rushed down to first dinner.
She took her time dressing, taking great pains from her stockings up – these were black silk, rather extravagant for afternoon wear; but she might be climbing ladders, no point in risking the exposure of everyday cotton, May thought. At last she was satisfied with her reflection in the mirror. She looked trim in the tailored navy, but the effect was not too severe because of the red and white cross stitch panels on her fine linen shirt. Shoes and gloves were another problem – nothing looked worse than soiled white gloves, May knew, so she opted for heavier street ones of red leather, despite the warm weather. She had to wear walking boots, but she could not resist her most elegant pair, close-fitting at the ankle with toecaps of patent leather. She glanced at the time, then wielded her button hook briskly. A white sailor hat with a matching ribbon of red satin completed the outfit, and with a flurry of skirts she was off.
Minnie Emms, vivid in a tight-fitting scarlet outfit and with an improbably glossy bird perched on her hat, overtook May on the stairs.
‘Just off to Fulham for my half-day, to see the old folks at home. Where are you going, then, May? Thought you were on nights tonight.’
‘I am,’ May admitted. ‘Be a dear and see if the coast is clear for me, Minnie. I don’t want Home Sister to spot me.’
‘Okey Doke.’ After a quick reconnoitre Minnie gave the signal and May scampered past the office.
‘What are you doing, then, May?’
May assumed a Cockney accent and gave the well-worn Poplar explanation, ‘I’m meeting a feller at the Dock Gate.’
Minnie laughed. ‘That’ll be the day, when you get up to tricks like that.’
As she spoke they came through the Hospital entrance and there, standing alongside the high stone archways and looking in their direction were the two tall, immaculately turned out figures of Archie and Walter Lisle.
Minnie gasped. ‘An’ I thought you were joking!’
Walter Lisle shot rapidly across the Dock Road, expertly side-stepping an ice cream tricycle. Archie followed a fraction behind him, but as they reached the pavement Walter fell back slightly and left Archie to speak.
‘Hello, May. So they did give you a remission for good conduct after all.’ He turned to Minnie, who was eyeing him with undisguised admiration. ‘Is your friend coming too?’
May said hastily, ‘No she isn’t, she’s on her way to Fulham.’
There was a squeal from Minnie. ‘You spoilsport, May!’ She nudged her in the ribs. ‘Now don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.’ With a provocative flick of her bright red skirts she was off down the Dock Road.
May muttered under her breath, ‘That should give me plenty of scope,’ and then glanced guiltily at Walter Lisle; he raised his eyebrows in a comic parody of outraged modesty, and she knew she was going to enjoy the afternoon.
Archie was gazing regretfully after Minnie’s swaying hips. ‘She looks a good sport – is that the girl old George met?’
‘Certainly not,’ May replied indignantly. ‘Ellen is quite different.’ Then remembering Minnie Emms’ ready connivance over Home Sister she added hastily, ‘But Minnie is very good-hearted.’ She swung round to their silent companion, ‘Good afternoon, Mr Lisle. I’m afraid Archie makes me forget my manners.’
Walter seized her proffered hand and shook it vigorously. ‘Good afternoon, Miss Winton, I’m so glad we were able to arrange our outing. Come along Archie, it’s too fine a day to spend on useless repinings on the main road.’
He took May’s elbow and piloted her skilfully across the busy street. May quite enjoyed the sensation of being taken care of on this very familiar thoroughfare, and it was a pleasure to let someone else be the recipient of the carter’s curses – hastily converted to an apology as he spied Walter’s badge of office.
Walter Lisle was unperturbed. ‘The dog collar has its uses you see, Miss Winton.’
The warmth of the sun on her back and the flutter of the ribbon on her light straw hat gave May a delightful sensation of being on holiday and she sprang onto the pavement with a swirl of her pleats.
Walter smiled down at her. ‘You look as if you’ve just escaped from the schoolroom – you should have tied your hair in plaits with big red bows. Where has that wretched cousin of yours got to?’
Archie finished his altercation with the driver of the loaded wagon trying to turn into the Dock Gates, and bounded up to them.
‘I must say, May, your slum citizens have got a fine command of language. I begin to see the attractions of this place – people are a lot livelier down here.’
Walter produced his pass, which the policeman did not look at. ‘Back again so soon, Vicar?’
May looked questioningly at her companion, who replied rather self-consciously, ‘I came down this morning to find out what ships were in dock, to show you.’
May was touched by his thoughtfulness.
As they came out of the archway she stopped suddenly, and Archie bumped into her from behind. She had caught glimpses of the scene before her in the past, but being inside the magic gateway was very different. The tracery of rigging on the slender masts visible over the high dock wall had always seemed so still and graceful, and somehow silent; but inside all was noise and activity. Her ears were assaulted with the shriek of steam whistles, the baying of horns and the confused shouting of voices; there was the intermittent rattling of chains. And there was constant movement: figures scurrying purposefully hither and thither, and a great crane moving along on stilts beside the high, blank, warehouses. Her eyes travelled on to the ships, their hulls looming sheer above the quays, overpowering at close quarters. Walter stood quite still and let her stare.
Archie’s voice sounded in her ear, ‘Come on, May, I want to see the rest even if you don’t, get a move on.’
May shook herself, glanced at Walter’s understanding face and walked on towards the action.
Walter warned, ‘Watch out for the cranes and the trucks,’ in a voice of such assurance that May asked whether he often came to the Docks.
‘Not so much now, Miss Winton. I’ve only been in this area since the New Year – I was a curate in the Borough before – but my father often brought me as a child. My mother’s family had East India connections. I remember the first time, we came on the train from Fenchurch Street. You run above endless narrow streets, with just glimpses of the river in the distance; then there’s a viaduct and suddenly you look into a deep cavern below, full of water – and there was a white schooner, like a giant bird at rest. At least, that’s how it seemed to me at the time.’ He was a little self-conscious now. ‘I was only eight, and very impressionable. I thought it was going to be the gateway to the Orient!’
‘But it is, isn’t it?’ May looked up at him.
He smiled down. ‘Yes, I suppose it is, but the journey ended amongst iron sheds, with freezing Lascars huddled against the wind – and it was raining.’ He laughed. ‘It was January, and over twenty years ago, Miss Winton.’
‘So was it a terrible disappointment?’ May felt sorry for the starry-eyed eight year old, cold in the wind and rain on a bleak quayside.
He recognised her concern, and said reassuringly, ‘Indeed it wasn’t. How could any normal small boy be disappointed at all this?’ He gestured to encompass the lively scene in front of them. ‘But my most dramatic memory is from later. We came here once – I was at Eton by then – and they were unloading animals for London Zoo. It was an incredible sight, Miss Winton, the moving of those exotic creatures. There were lions and leopards, and a puma, I think, all snarling and growling with rage at being swung high over the side of the ship and onto the quay.’
‘My goodness,’ May exclaimed. ‘Weren’t you awfully frightened?’
Walter grinned at her. ‘They were in cages, of course, Miss Winton.’
Archie burst out into loud guffaws at her confusion. ‘That’s typical of you, May – she’s got a vivid imagination, my cousin, Tate. She’ll have been thinking that the sailors played catch and chase round the decks, dodging wild beasts all the way from India.’
Walter said softly, ‘Fortunately no one threatened to throw me to the lions, then.’ He laughed at her blushes. May pinched the arm she was holding in revenge until he said, ‘It was “pax”, Miss Winton, remember? Come along, we’ve got lots more to see.’
They threaded through the men wheeling trucks along the side of the dock. One of them called, ‘Afternoon, Nurse,’ and May recognised a former patient and cried a quick greeting back.
Archie was insistent. ‘Can’t we go on board?’
Walter nodded. ‘But not this one, down here – I arranged it this morning.’
The ship of Walter’s choice seemed no different from the ones on either side, but he led them purposefully to it – ‘The captain’s expecting us.’ A man in a peaked cap came forward to meet them. He shook them by the hand, looking searchingly at May as they were introduced; she supposed lady visitors were less usual.
‘I’ll take you round my ship – mind your hats, gentlemen, it’s low in places.’
They began their tour below, in the hot, sulphurous-smelling engine room. May insisted that she was quite capable of climbing down the narrow iron ladder. She glanced down as she made her descent and derived a naughty pleasure from seeing the dilemma of Walter Lisle, waiting at the bottom to help her off the last high rung. He was obviously anxious to watch that she was finding her footholds safely, yet trying at the same time to look as if he were not also catching glimpses of her shapely calves in their sheer black silk. May was glad she had given some thought to her stockings. But of course Archie had to put his foot in it by calling, just as Walter lifted up his arms to her at the bottom, ‘I hope you remembered your best red flannel petticoat today, May.’ Walter’s face was a picture as he caught her neatly and deposited her very quickly on the iron plates of the deck.
They met the engineer and admired the massive, highly-polished machinery, obviously his pride and joy, then they climbed up the ladder again, Walter insisting on following the captain, so that Archie had to help May from the rear. Not that May needed much help: she was thoroughly relaxed now and moved about the ship as confidently as though it were Elizabeth Ward.
Before mounting to the bridge the captain glanced at Walter, and when he nodded said, ‘I’ve something to show you, especially, Miss Winton. Look on the bulkhead.’ He pointed to a brass plate. Obediently May looked up and read it, then started in surprise.
‘The young gentleman told me you were Joseph Frears’ granddaughter – this is a Frears ship, you see. It’s nice and tight; your granddad built some bonny vessels.’
Walter’s face was aglow with pleasure at May’s delight.
Archie said, ‘You’ve arranged a neat little surprise there, Tate. Lucky there was one in today.’
The captain laughed. ‘It’s likely enough, it’s the biggest Tyneside yard. Now I must show you the bridge, then perhaps the young lady would like a cup of tea?’
The tea, when it came, was very hot and a dark teak colour. The captain was apologetic.
‘I told the lad to make it weaker for a lady, but you know what these boys are like – cook’s ashore.’
May smiled at him and sipped the bitter brew. ‘It’s exactly what I’m used to: hospital tea is notorious for its strength.’
The captain’s face was puzzled. Walter said, in explanation, ‘Miss Winton is a nurse at St Katharine’s, just opposite the main Dock Gate.’
The captain dropped his cup with a splash and said, ‘Well, I’ll be danged – if you’ll pardon the expression Miss – but I…’ Then he recovered himself with an effort and said, ‘I know St Katharine’s well enough, I was in there only yesterday visiting one of my lads who’d ruptured himself, if you’ll excuse me, Miss, – but of course, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Screaming in agony he was, strangled something, they said.’
‘Strangulated hernia,’ May said. ‘We get a lot of cases round here, because of the heavy work. Which ward is he in?’
‘Simeon, with a big Sister, very bossy she was, ordering all the nurses around.’
May exclaimed, ‘That was my first ward! But all Sisters are like that, you know, it’s their job.’
Archie said, ‘And May’s been practising all her life – I feel sorry for your patients, May, I really do.’
The captain and Walter Lisle rounded on him simultaneously. ‘The jobs these young ladies do, I couldn’t stomach ’em myself – I take my hat off to ’em,’ while Walter cried indignantly, ‘May’s patients are very lucky, I envy them, Archie!’ Then he went pink with embarrassment and asked quickly, ‘Have you finished your tea yet, Miss Winton? Captain Soames is a busy man.’
‘Never too busy to entertain a nurse,’ Captain Soames said heartily, ‘And Joseph Frears’ granddaughter, of course,’ he added hastily.
But Walter was impatient to show May and Archie the other wonders of the Docks, so they thanked the captain for his hospitality and went ashore.