The Doctor's Daughters .sx by ANNE WEALE .sx ILLUSTRATED BY DENIS ALFORD .sx It was like a pebble thrown into a quiet , still pool when Daniel Elliot met the doctor's daughters !sx THE STORY SO FAR .sx For three years after the death of Sir Robert Elliot , Branford Hall lay empty and the overgrown grounds became a favourite haunt of RACHEL BURNEY , eldest of the local doctor's three daughters .sx Rachel had kept house for her widowed father , her younger sisters , CAROLA and SUZY , and their fluttery aunt , RACHEL BURNEY , ever since leaving art school some years previously .sx One sunny May morning Rachel woke from a daydream in the Branford orchard- she had been wondering whether she would ever marry EDWARD FORRESTER whom she had known since childhood- to find herself being scrutinised by a tall , bronzed man .sx In her consternation and not realising he was Sir Robert's Canadian grandson , DANIEL ELLIOT , she accused him of trespassing !sx Later , listening to the Canadian's sarcastic comments as she accompanied him through the dusty , neglected rooms of the Hall , Rachel became convinced he was the most provoking , arrogant man she had ever met .sx . At tea she was filled with dismay when DOCTOR BURNEY suddenly announced that he had invited the new owner of the Hall to dinner that evening .sx Twenty-year-old Carola , the beauty of the family , returned home delighted because she had been appointed house model of the store where she worked .sx Tubby , fourteen-year-old Suzy was frankly envious .sx Promptly at six-thirty there was a knock on the front door .sx Rachel opened it- and was struck dumb .sx Gone was the casually dressed Canadian she had thought a " backwoodsman"- this Daniel Elliot was immaculately tailored .sx . The story now continues ALTHOUGH Rachel had spent most of her life in a neighbourhood where even rich people wore ancient tweeds and faded raincoats , she could not fail to recognise the faultless cut of the lounge suit which now replaced the disreputable slacks Daniel Elliot had worn earlier that day .sx She knew , too , that the immaculate cream silk shirt and olive green gum-twill tie must have been bought at some very expensive shirtmakers .sx Perching on the edge of the sofa , she tried vainly to think of something to say and was relieved when the visitor broke the silence by asking permission to smoke .sx " Oh , yes , please do , " she said hastily , looking about for the ivory cigarette box that her father- himself a pipe-smoker- kept for guests .sx But before she could discover where it had been moved , Elliot produced a slim silver case and offered it .sx " N-no , thank you .sx " The foolish stammer made her even more self-conscious .sx " My father says you are staying at the Saracen , Mr. Elliot .sx Is it comfortable ?sx The couple who run it now have only been there a short time .sx The hotel side is quite new .sx " He was flicking his black enamelled lighter and she noticed that his hands , mahogany dark against the pale cream cuffs of his shirt , were clinically clean , the nails pared short at the tips of his long lean fingers .sx His cuff-links were plain gold rectangles and he did not wear a signet ring .sx " Yes , extremely comfortable , thanks , " he answered quietly .sx " My room overlooks the village green .sx I am told that the stream running through the centre of it has quite a history .sx " " The Goose Beck ?sx Yes , it has .sx People used to do all their washing in it years ago .sx It widens into a pool up near the church .sx That's where they ducked witches in the Middle Ages .sx " He drank some sherry , his eyes disconcertingly keen as he watched her .sx " I imagine you were not very pleased to hear I was coming tonight , " he remarked bluntly .sx Rachel swallowed , unable to meet his glance .sx " I think I should apologise for saying what I did to you this morning , " she said , flushing .sx " It was very rude of me .sx " " On the contrary , I found it refreshingly frank .sx You look very attractive when you are angry , " he added , with a hint of mockery .sx Then , glancing round the room :sx " Where is the Hound of the Baskervilles tonight ?sx " She stiffened .sx " Bolster is in the garden , " she said coolly , furious that the lazy , almost caressing note in his voice had succeeded in heightening her colour .sx " You know , I am beginning- " He broke off , rising to his feet as Miss Burney and Suzy entered .sx Rachel made the introductions and left her aunt to take over the conversation .sx She was pouring a sherry for Aunt Florence when the door swung open and Carola made one of her grand entrances .sx After contributing a couple of pounds to the family exchequer- some of which she invariably borrowed back before the end of the week- Carola spent all her earnings on clothes and cosmetics .sx Every Friday saw some addition to her wardrobe .sx If no dress , shoes , or handbag had appealed to her , then she would buy jewellery , make-up or nylons .sx To be up to the minute was as essential to Carola as eating or sleeping .sx She pored over fashion magazines with the same professional absorption that her father gave to his medical journals or Miss Burney to horoscopes .sx Tonight she was wearing her latest acquisition , a dress of misty blue-green chiffon with a sleeveless bloused bodice and a flurry of pleats from the waist .sx Her eyelids shimmered with silvery aquamarine shadow and her lipstick was a subtle amber-rose .sx She looked willowy and fragile and a delicious scent wafted from her as she moved .sx ELLIOT stood up , his eyebrows tilting appreciatively .sx A little put out by the interruption , Miss Burney said :sx " This is Carola , my second niece , Mr. Elliot .sx " Carola smiled and held out a small cool hand , her silver bracelets tinkling .sx " How do you do ?sx Welcome to England , Mr. Elliot , " she said charmingly .sx Then , with mischievous candour :sx " I must say you are not a bit what we expected .sx " He laughed .sx " What did you expect ?sx " Carola sank gracefully into a chair and crossed her legs , revealing so much knee that Aunt Florence , who disapproved of recent fashion trends , made anxious signals to her to pull her skirt down .sx " We weren't really expecting anyone at all after so long , " Carola said , ignoring the signs .sx " But you are not at all like your grandfather .sx He used to stump round the village with an enormous stick and growl at people through his moustache .sx " " I'm sure he never growled at you .sx " Daniel looked amused .sx " Oh , yes , he did .sx I was terrified of him .sx " She gave a reminiscent shiver .sx Then , twirling imaginary whiskers , she did a very creditable imitation of Sir Robert's deep bass voice .sx " Really , Carola !sx I am surprised at you !sx " Miss Burney protested indignantly , her long thin nose turning pink with mortification at this irreverent piece of mimicry .sx She looked apologetically at their guest .sx " Your grandfather was a most charming old gentleman , Mr. Elliot , and greatly respected , " she assured him earnestly .sx " I dare say he was milder than he looked , " he said carelessly .sx " I believe he made several attempts to patch things up with my father but none of them was successful .sx " " What did they have a row about ?sx " Carola asked .sx " Everyone knows there was a colossal bust-up , but no one knows why .sx " Before Elliot could reply , Doctor Burney came in and Rachel slipped away to put the finishing touches to the supper table .sx She took little part in the conversation during the meal , in the course of which it emerged that Daniel Elliot could pilot a plane , had travelled all over the world and had an informed taste in art , literature and music .sx By the time they had reached the coffee stage , it was sickeningly clear to Rachel that , far from being an uncouth product of the backwoods as she had supposed- and perhaps indicated by her manner to him- Daniel Elliot knew ten times more of the world than anyone she had met .sx " May I give you a hand with the washing up ?sx " he asked her , as they rose to return to the sitting-room .sx " Thank you , but I would really rather do it myself , " she said politely .sx " Rachel is the madly domesticated type .sx You would probably put everything back in the wrong place and then she would have to re-organise them .sx You hate things to be out of order , don't you , sweetie ?sx " Carola said teasingly .sx Rachel smiled , wondering why a passion for tidiness always sounded such a petty , old-maidish foible .sx " I do a bit , " she admitted evenly .sx " I'll make some more coffee .sx I won't be long .sx " SHE had just dried the last plate and was setting clean coffee cups on a tray , when a dark-haired , spectacled young man put his head through the kitchen window .sx " Coming for a walk , Rachel ?sx " he asked .sx " Oh , hello , Edward !sx No , I can't tonight , " she said regretfully .sx " We have a visitor .sx Come in and pay your respects to the new lord of the manor .sx He is in the sitting-room with the others .sx " " Yes , I heard the prodigal grandson had finally turned up .sx " Edward came into the kitchen .sx " It's all over the village .sx What is he like ?sx " " Quite pleasant , " Rachel said evasively , going to the pantry for more milk .sx Edward leaned against the dresser , watching her .sx He was tall and lanky , with a thin , clever face and slightly stooped shoulders .sx As a small boy he had never fitted into the rowdy gang of village lads and later , when he went to Branford Grammar School and walked away with most of the academic laurels , his friends had been similarly quiet and studious .sx Oddly , Rachel , then a pigtailed tomboy , had liked him better than the more boisterous youths .sx " I say , Rachel- " He broke off , fiddling with the strap of his wristwatch .sx " Mm , what ?sx " she asked , wishing the kettle would hurry up and boil .sx " I rather wanted to see you tonight .sx " " You sound very mysterious .sx What's up ?sx " He hesitated .sx " Well , for one thing , I've been promoted .sx " " Oh , Edward , how lovely !sx Congratulations !sx " He flushed .sx " It is pretty encouraging and , of course , my income will improve considerably .sx That is why I wanted you to be the first to know .sx " Rachel smiled at him .sx " I always knew you would do great things , " she said affectionately .sx And then , because it seemed the appropriate gesture and because she had known him for so long , she laid her hands lightly on his shoulders and reached up to kiss his cheek .sx Edward's reaction was to clasp her eagerly round the waist and return the kiss so heartily that she was too much taken aback to do anything but submit .sx When , after a moment , he released her , she was too breathless and shaken to free herself and could only stand dazedly in the circle of his arms , trying to decide whether she had liked it .sx " Oh , Rachel , don't you see , I can ask you to marry me now , " he said huskily .sx " You do care for me , dearest ?sx You will say 'yes' ?sx " Rachel stared at him blankly .sx She had known for years that Edward was fond of her and that everyone assumed they would eventually marry .sx In a vague , wait-till-it-happens way , she had assumed it herself .sx But now that he had actually proposed , she discovered that she had no notion how to answer him .sx Although she was twenty-four , she still thought of marriage as something in the future .sx " I don't know , Edward , " she answered lamely .sx " I'm not sure .sx It's all so- so sudden .sx " And then , as she searched for words to explain that she was touched and flattered , but that it wasn't a question which could be settled in a split second , a movement in the doorway caught her eye and she turned her head , a wave of furious and embarrassed colour suffusing her face and throat .sx Calmly , his mouth twitching , his eyes brilliant with undisguised amusement , Daniel Elliot strolled forward .sx " I came to carry the tray for you , " he said politely .sx " I seem to have chosen an inopportune moment .sx " FOR what seemed an eternity , but was actually about fifteen seconds , there was a strained silence .sx Anyone with a skin thinner than a rhinoceros hide would have muttered an apology and hastily retreated , Rachel thought furiously .sx