Andrew's hard rimes were over. So many people now came to his surgery that he could no longer take the time to give them proper attention.

'Listen, Chris,' he said one morning, 'I've just thought of an idea to save time. I want you to deal with the medicines for me. I usually spend about five minutes mixing each patient's medicine. During those five minutes I could examine another patient!'

She looked at him. 'But I don't know anything about medicine!'

He smiled. 'That doesn't matter, dear. I have prepared a large quantity of two different kinds of medicine. I will tell you which kind to give each patient. Then you will fill the botde and hand it to him.'

Christine looked worried, 'But - oh, Andrew, do you really believe-'

'Oh, I know that I used to talk a lot of nonsense about medicine at Aberalaw! But I'm a practical doctor now. These medicines can't do any harm!'

Christine knew that it would be a waste of breath to argue with him; and so she agreed to fill the bottles. At every surgery, Andrew would run into her room to tell her which medicine to give each patient, and then run back to his surgery to attend to the next patient.

On one occasion, Christine told him that one of the medicines was finished. 'Never mind - give the other!' Andrew shouted. 'Give coloured water! Give anything!'

After the evening surgery, Andrew would sit down and work out his accounts. 'Heavens, Chris, we are doing well!' he said proudly one evening. 'Do you remember that miserable sum that I earned on our first day here? Well, today - today I made over eight pounds!' He locked up the money in a drawer, and praised his wisdom in buying the practice. 'Yes, and I'm attending high-class patients as well. We're going to be rich, woman!'

Soon, he was able to tell her to buy new furniture for the house. 'Go to the best shop. Get all the new furniture that you want. Get everything!'

Christine looked at him in silence.

He smiled. 'That's the joy of making money! One can buy everything that one wants. Let us enjoy our success!'

'By buying expensive furniture?'

He did not notice the bitterness in her voice. He laughed. 'That's right, dear. Now's the time to get rid of all those terrible old bits and pieces!'

She burst into tears. 'You weren't ashamed of it at Aberalaw. Oh, those were happy days!' She turned and ran out of the room.

Andrew was very surprised. He thought angrily; 'She doesn't care about my success - she doesn't care!'

But other people showed him respect.