The offices of the Coal and Mines Board were in a large stone building in the centre of London. On a bright morning in August, Andrew ran up the steps of this building in high spirits.

'I'm the new Medical Officer,' he told the man at the door.

'Yes, sir,' said the man. 'Mr Gill is expecting you. Jones! Take our new doctor to Mr Gill's room.'

Andrew was led into a large, sunny room where Mr Gill, a cheerful little man, shook hands with him and said: 'Please sit down. Would you like a cup of tea?'

While they drank their tea, Gill made some remarks about the weather. Then he led Andrew to his room, which was also sunny with a view of the river. 'I - I hope you will like this room,' Gill said with a smile.

'Oh, yes - it's a beautiful room!'

'Now I'll introduce you to your secretary - Miss Mason.' Gill took him into the next room, where Miss Mason, a friendly young woman, sat at a small desk.

'Miss Mason, this is Dr Manson.'

'Good morning, Dr Manson.'

They had a short conversation, and then Andrew returned to his own room, where Gill remarked: 'I'll send you some reports to read.'

A pile of reports arrived. Andrew read these dull accounts of meetings of the Board as quickly as he could, and then went to Gill and asked: 'When can I start work?'

Gill was surprised at his question. 'Heavens, have you read those reports already? I thought that I had given you enough to keep you busy for a month!' He looked at his watch. 'Let's go out. It's time for lunch.'

At lunch, Gill explained that the Board would not meet again till the middle of September, and that there would be no other work for Andrew until after that meeting.

Andrew went back to Christine that evening with a feeling of disappointment. 'Would you believe it, Chris?' he said. 'They're not ready for me! For a whole month I shall have nothing to do except to read reports and drink tea!'

'Never mind!' said Christine, her thoughts on other things. 'It's lovely here - much nicer than Aberalaw. I went for a walk this afternoon. Oh! I planned such lovely things for us to do.' He had rarely seen her so excited.

'My love, let's go out to dinner! Then, if you're not too tired, we might go to the theatre.'

As she led him to the door, he laughed. 'I need some entertainment after my first day's hard work.'

Next morning, he read every report again. Then he began to explore the building. Suddenly he found himself in a long room, where a young man in a dirty white coat was sitting on a box, smoking a pipe and doing nothing.