Christine's absence was at first a relief to Andrew. Then he began to ask himself what she was doing, and to look forward to her return. Although he told himself that he was now a free man, he had the same lonely feeling that he had experienced at Aberalaw when Christine had gone away to stay with her aunt.

He met Ivory, Freddie and Deedman two or three times. He also drove to the Chiltern Hills to see Stillman's new hospital. He and Stillman became good friends. But his friendship with Stillman did not take away his loneliness.

In the end, Andrew telephoned Frances Lawrence and asked her: 'Would you care to drive into the country and have dinner with me tomorrow evening?'

Her voice comforted him. 'That would be very nice.'

The next evening they drove to a small country town, where they had dinner at a hotel by the river.

'We have known each other for quite a long time,' Frances remarked, 'but this is the first occasion that you have asked me to come out with you.'

'Are you sorry that you came?'

She smiled.

'Does - does your husband know that we...'

She looked up. 'Don't you understand? Jack and I are good friends. But we...' She stopped suddenly. 'Let's dance,' she suggested.

They danced. It gave Andrew a strange feeling of pleasure to hold her in his arms. When they returned to their table, he asked awkwardly: 'Why have you been so kind to me?'

His question seemed to amuse her. 'You are very attractive. And what I like most about you is that you do not realize it!'

'No - do be serious!'

She laughed. 'It's hot in here! Let's go outside and look at the moonlight on the river.'

They walked down to the river and sat on a seat. She looked at the moon shining on the water. 'What a beautiful night!' she said.

He kissed her. Her lips were warm.

She smiled. 'That was very sweet - but very badly done!'

'I can do better,' he whispered. He felt awkward, ashamed. He wanted to take her into his arms. But then a shadowy picture of Christine's tired, sad face looked up at him from the water. It worried and annoyed him. He kissed Frances again.

'You took a long time to do that!' she said. 'And now, Doctor, I think that we should go home.'

They drove back to London in silence. Andrew was not happy. He hated himself. He tried to dismiss Christine from his mind but he could not do so. When they reached Mrs Lawrence's house, he got out of the car and opened the door for her without a word.

'Come in,' she invited him.

He paused. 'It's very late, isn't it?'