Frances gave a rueful laugh .sx " Not nearly so much as when he'll be sitting in on a surgery of mine !sx " .sx They were still laughing when there was a sudden tap at the door and Dr Ryan strode in .sx He glanced at each of them in turn , and the smile froze on Frances's face .sx " Good morning , June , " he said briefly .sx " Is Neville in yet ?sx " When June shook her head , he turned to Frances .sx " Are you going to follow through your pyelitis diagnosis and do an X-ray form ?sx " .sx " Oh , yes , of course .sx " She coloured slightly , wondering if he had expected her to do it automatically .sx " If you go out to Reception one of the girls will give you a form .sx Is my post ready yet , June ?sx " .sx " Not yet , Dr Ryan , " June replied calmly .sx " I'll bring it through as soon as it's sorted .sx " .sx " Did you want me for anything else ?sx " Frances asked as she replaced the top on her pen and handed the forms back to June .sx The older woman shook her head , and Frances stood up .sx " In that case , I'll go and get my X-ray request form .sx " Leaving Dr Ryan in the office , she went out to the desk where Lynne , another of the receptionists , gave her the form she wanted .sx She began to fill it in , then realised she couldn't complete it without the patient's records , and as far as she knew Dr Ryan still had those .sx She hesitated , wondering if she dared approach him , when he suddenly appeared beside her .sx It was obvious he'd had the same thought , for he had the necessary records in his hand .sx Glancing at his watch , he said , " I have a few minutes before surgery - come along to the room we've prepared for you and you can write your form there .sx " .sx At that moment there was a sudden commotion at the front entrance and the waiting area was filled with at least a dozen foreign students who all seemed to be talking at the same time .sx Two of them were supporting one young lad who was hopping on one foot .sx His ankle looked badly swollen .sx Dr Ryan raised his eyebrows at Lynne , who seemed to visibly brace herself to deal with the situation .sx Frances's consulting-room had once been a store-room , but a little thought had been put into the conversion and she found she was delighted with the result .sx Admittedly it was small , but , from what she had heard from other trainees , she was extremely lucky to have a room of her own .sx The usual procedure was for the trainee to use the room of whichever doctor happened to be away , either on holiday or on a day off .sx This arrangement worked well until the inevitable happened and all partners were working on the same day .sx The room had been tastefully decorated with pale green paint and darker green carpet tiles and window blinds .sx Floral-patterned curtains concealed an examination couch while the desk , positioned in front of the window , boasted the usual office implements plus a computer screen and keyboard .sx " Are you familiar with these monsters ?sx " asked Dr Ryan , pointing to the terminal as Frances followed him into the room .sx " More or less , " she replied cautiously .sx " We had them at the hospital , although I didn't use them that often .sx " .sx " We had the system installed about a year ago .sx Simon swears by it , says he now couldn't manage without one , while Neville , on the other hand , can't seem to get the hang of them .sx " .sx " What about you ?sx " She threw him a glance and saw a frown had creased his forehead .sx " I'm not sure .sx For things like drug reports , cervical smear recalls , and repeat prescribing , I'll admit they save time , but there are other times when something goes wrong and I end up exasperated and thinking it would have been easier to have done the whole thing by hand .sx " .sx " I'll have to get someone to explain the system to me , " Frances replied doubtfully .sx " I'm sure Simon will be only too happy to oblige , " Dr Ryan observed drily .sx " Now , let's get down to more practical matters .sx " He handed her the records of the patient they'd seen that morning .sx " There are the notes for your X-ray request .sx " .sx " Thank you .sx " She placed them on her desk and turned back to him .sx " You said yesterday , Dr Ryan , that you wanted me to spend the morning getting familiar with everything .sx Did you have anything specific in mind ?sx " .sx He nodded , and she was struck by how decisive he seemed .sx " Yes , I want you to spend time with the girls in Reception .sx Get them to show you how the whole system works - they're a nice bunch of girls , I'm sure you'll get on well with them .sx It might also be a good idea to talk to Sandra .sx " .sx " Sandra ?sx " .sx " You haven't met her yet ?sx " When Frances shook her head , he continued .sx " She's the practice nurse .sx She works in the treatment room and has her own appointment system .sx " He paused , hesitating for a moment , then apparently choosing his words carefully he said , " You may find Sandra can be a bit difficult at times , but she's a good nurse and does her job well .sx Now , is there anything you want to ask before I go and start my surgery ?sx " .sx " I don't think so , thank you , Dr Ryan .sx " .sx He turned to the door , then paused .sx " Oh , there is just one thing - please drop the Dr Ryan and call me Alex .sx " .sx There was a faint trace of amusement in the brown eyes , and Frances felt her cheeks grow hot .sx She merely nodded in reply , but when he made no attempt to go , she frowned questioningly .sx " Was there anything else ?sx " she faltered at last .sx " I was rather hoping that you were going to ask me to call you Frances .sx 'Dr Marriott' is going to be very formal for a whole year .sx " .sx " Oh .sx .. oh , yes .sx " She was suddenly confused , all the more so by his amusement , which was now only too apparent .sx " Yes .sx " she took a deep breath " .sx ..please call me Frances .sx " .sx With a brief nod he was gone , leaving her to sink down into the chair behind the desk , hating herself for the way she seemed to be reacting to him .sx There was something about him that made her act like a gauche schoolgirl instead of a qualified doctor .sx She glanced round the room , then resolutely she squared her shoulders and decided that she wouldn't be intimidated by anyone ; apprehensive she might be , but she would not be patronised .sx Briskly she filled in the X-ray request form , then spent the next half-hour arranging the room to her liking .sx Finally she reached the point where she could do no more until her books arrived , so she made her way back to Reception .sx The scene that met her eyes appeared to be one of organised chaos , for .sx although the whole area was packed with waiting patients , the phones ringing continuously , the doctors' buzzers sounding and a constant stream of people coming and going , the girls behind the desk seemed to be in complete control .sx With calm efficiency , they directed and organised , giving help or advice where necessary .sx June was in the office area behind the desk which housed the practice filing system , and when she saw Frances she beckoned to her , then proceeded to show her around .sx Carefully she explained everything ; how new patients registered with a doctor , the method they used for repeat prescribing , the appointment and house call system , and even how the intercom worked on the telephone .sx The girls were friendly and cheerful and seemed only too willing to help Frances and explain their various jobs .sx Just when she thought her head would burst with so many facts , June said , " Now , I think it's time you met Sandra .sx " She looked at Lynne .sx " Is she very busy at the moment ?sx " .sx Lynne glanced at an appointment book on the desk .sx " She's removing stitches , " she replied , then looked up quickly as a door opposite the desk suddenly opened .sx " Oh , she must have finished , here's the patient now .sx " .sx A white-faced man came slowly out of the treatment-room , then stopped and held on to the top of the desk as if for support .sx " Would you like to sit down for a few minutes ?sx " Lynne asked kindly .sx He nodded and walked across to a row of chairs .sx June nodded at Frances .sx " I think this might be a good time , " she said .sx They walked out from behind the desk and crossed to the treatment-room , where June tapped on the door .sx As they entered , a petite woman in a navy blue uniform turned from an instrument trolley .sx She was very pretty with small features , china-blue eyes and her blonde hair tied back under her white frilly cap .sx Her eyes narrowed slightly as she caught sight of Frances .sx " Whatever did you do to that poor man , Sandra ?sx " June asked with a chuckle .sx " He looked quite ill when he came out of here !sx " .sx " He'd had a hernia operation .sx I only took his stitches out , for heaven's sake .sx Honestly , men are such babies !sx " She sniffed , then her gaze flickered back to Frances .sx " Sandra , I'd like you to meet Frances Marriott , " said June .sx " You were on holiday when she came to see us before .sx Frances is Dr Ryan's trainee .sx " She turned .sx " Frances , this is Sandra Jones , our practice nurse .sx " .sx Frances held out her hand but the other woman barely touched it , simply nodding in response with no word of welcome .sx Her attitude took Frances by surprise , for it was in such marked contrast to the behaviour of everyone else .sx June went on to query some matter of supplies , and Frances found herself watching the nurse closely .sx She judged her to be somewhere in her mid-thirties , and closer observation revealed lines of discontent on her face .sx As she waited for June , Frances remembered that Alex Ryan had told her that Sandra could be difficult , a fact that , now she's met her , she didn't find hard to believe .sx They left the treatment-room , still without a friendly word , and Frances decided that she might well have to accept the situation .sx She'd done very well up until that point , and she took the attitude that she really couldn't expect to get on with everyone .sx The rest of the morning was taken up with more explanations in Reception and a coffee-break in the staff-room , where she renewed her acquaintance with Neville Chandler .sx The senior partner , a bluff , hearty man in his sixties , couldn't remember who she was at first , but after June had patiently reminded him he proved the kindness itself .sx Coffee was followed by a spell with June in her office discussing the doctors' duty rota , the , before she had time to collect her thoughts , the morning had passed and it was lunchtime .sx She was about to make her way up to her flat for a quick sandwich when Simon appeared in Reception .sx " Frances !sx " He seemed to have recovered from his tiredness and was evidently pleased to see her .sx " How about a quick pie and a pint at the Mucky Duck ?sx " .sx She hesitated but , not giving her a chance to refuse , he took her arm .sx " Come on , I mustn't be long , I've calls to make , but I'm not one of the breed of doctors that can go all day without sustenance .sx " .sx With a laugh she gave in and allowed him to lead her to the door , where he turned and winked at the girls behind the desk , who seemed to find the whole thing very amusing .sx On their way through the car park they met Alex on his way in form an emergency visit .sx He frowned slightly when he saw them .sx " Don't forget our meeting , Frances , " he said briefly .sx " Don't worry , Ales , I'll get her back , " said Simon , then with a grin he added , " The poor girl as to eat , you know .sx " .sx With a curt nod Alex walked past them and into the house .sx " My God , you'll have to watch him , " Simon muttered as he opened the passenger door of his sports car for her .sx " He's a right slave-driver .sx " .sx