Chapter 3
As I let myself in the front door, my housekeeper came out into the hall, looking very perturbed.
"There is a Mrs. Wright and her daughter in the waiting-room, doctor. She hadn't an appointment, but she was so insistent on waiting to see you and the daughter was so upset and distraught I took the liberty of letting them in."
"That's alright, Mrs. Dawson. I know the matter must be urgent or you would have told her to come back at surgery time. I'll go and see her, and have a cup of tea and some toast when she has left. It's too late for lunch now and I'm not particularly hungry."
I put my hat on the rack went out for the bag and hurried through to the surgery.
Waiting was a young woman of around thirty who stood up and turned towards me anxiously as I entered. Sat on the settee was a fair-haired girl of about fifteen, whose eyes were red and sore with crying. In her clenched fist was a wet handkerchief.
"Oh, doctor, I'm so glad you've returned. I'm in such terrible trouble! Anything I tell you is in strict confidence isn't it? You're not forced to report anything to the police are you, if I don't wish you to?"
"Now, now, calm yourself down and tell me all about what's bothering you. You're Mrs. Wright from Thirsk Road, aren't you, and I believe this is Susan. I visited her last summer when she sprained her ankle, I remember."
I drew her up a chair in front of my desk and waited for her to be seated. "Now, tell me what has happened, and rest assured that I shall use my discretion and treat what you have to tell me in the strictest confidence. A patients confidences are always respected ... except under very exceptional circumstances, when it is in the patients own interests to betray them ... it's a sort of code in our profession." I smiled at her reassuringly.
She was clasping and unclasping her hands nervously, and seeking for words. I waited patiently for her to begin, taking out my cigarette case and offering her one to steady her nerves.
After I had lit it for her, she seemed to pluck up courage.
"Well, doctor, you may or may not know my husband is not Susan's father. She's the child of my first husband, who died of cancer when she was two. I brought her up for some years on my own, going out to work to provide for us both. Then, just before you arrived, I met Harry and after a short engagement, we got married. He was very good to me, and to Susan for that matter, and we never wanted for anything. I'm very fond of my husband and I know he adores me. We were all happy together till my daughter was thirteen and started to develop her breasts and reached the age of puberty." She paused and glanced across at the girl before continuing.
"Well, up till then he had shown her a lot of genuine fatherly affection, and they were devoted to each other ... but ... er ... a change gradually came over him ... He used to go through into her bedroom when she was undressing and watch her He would make some excuse for going into the bathroom when she was taking a bath. At first I thought nothing of it, because I don't believe in kids being shy in front of their parents. Then slowly, stage by stage, he has become more familiar with her. She never said anything, and I never guessed he was fondling her breasts and stroking her thighs. She tells me that he used to sit on the edge of her bed and put her hand on his private parts some night when I was out visiting a friend or at the pictures ... and that for several months she has been tossing him off and he's been playing with her. She says got a thrill out of it, though she knew it was wrong and was frightened I would find out." She stopped abruptly, and I knew the main part of her story was coming.
"Well, doctor, last night I stayed late at my friend's, Mrs. Watson. I missed the last bus and had to wait till her husband got in about eleven-thirty to run me home. When I got back home, shortly after midnight, my husband had gone up to bed. He was still awake reading. I didn't look most, and, beside being frightened for her daughter's well-being, she was dreading having to face Harry and tell him she knew.
I asked Susan if her father had let anything happen inside her. She had been sat quietly all this time, looking very self-conscious and embarrassed. She swallowed and murmured quietly, "No, doctor...he ... he. . .er ... pulled his thing out and it flowed all over my tummy. I ... I feel so ashamed of myself now ... and so sorry for mummy."
I turned to her mother and said, "Mrs. Wright, I must point out that what Harry has done amounts to a serious criminal offence, and that, if you went to the police, your husband would get anything up to four years imprisonment. Now, I take it, you do not wish this matter to be made public, partly because of the disgrace and shame it would bring on Susan, and partly because you still love Harry, despite his disloyal and wicked behavior, and don't wish to risk breaking up your marriage. Furthermore, I take it you are wishing me to make sure no injury has been done to Susan, and that there is no fear of her becoming pregnant; and possibly you would like my advice as to how to tackle Harry on the subject and ensure there is no repetition of these episodes."
All this I said sternly and very professionally, but couldn't help feeling a little hypocritical, when I remembered my own unethical behavior a few hours previously.
Mrs. Wright's face brightened considerably, and she smiled half-heartedly to show her thanks.
"Yes, doctor, that is precisely why I have come into Susan's room as I usually do, it being so late. Harry was quite normal and I didn't know anything was wrong.
This morning he brought me the usual cup of tea up to bed at half past seven before he left for work, and I heard him talking earnestly to Susan before he went off. I got up about eight and called her for school about half past.
When I entered her room, I could see she had been crying and she didn't throw her arms round me as she usually does. When I asked what had upset her, she buried her face in the pillow and started sobbing.
She wasn't going to tell me at first, but when I turned back the sheets they were all stained with blood. I knew she'd only just finished her periods the previous week-end, so I guessed what was distressing her. Even then, I didn't connect Harry with anything, and thought she'd broken her own virginity playing with herself.
Finally she told me everything. Harry got into bed with her last night and raped her. I gather she didn't put up much resistance and was a half-willing party; but, when he broke her in, he was rough and hurt her considerably. Then, this morning, when she saw the blood, she knew I would find out and was terrified of having to tell me what she'd been up to behind my back with Harry all these months."
She had gathered confidence as she proceeded with her story, and I sensed that she was relieved to confide in someone else. Her pride had been hurt by the actions of the two people she loved to see you." She said. "I would be most grateful for your advice as to what to do and what to say to my husband, I don't know how we've ever going to live this down or whether things will ever be normal again between us."
"Time is a wonderful healer," I said soothingly. "This has been a great shock to you ... and, when he realizes you know, it will be an equal blow to your husband. But if you don't rush to force a reconciliation and let matters take their own course, you will find this affair will gradually fade into the background, though possibly never entirely will it be forgotten. I suggest you say what you wish to say tonight and get your feelings off your chest. Then try not to allude to the affair again ... Now, with regard to Susan, I think possibly she has learned her lesson. She will soon forget this, and I doubt if any real harm has come to her. However, I will examine her shortly and make certain ... When you get back. I suggest you tell him the whole facts ... about finding the blood on the sheets ... Susan having to tell you . . and your bringing her round to see me. Now, here perhaps, it would be as well to scare him. Say I was going to report the matter to police and only, after a lot of pleading by you. did I agree to do nothing till I had seen him and talked to him. Get him to come round after surgery tonight about nine, and leave the rest to me. I think I can so frighten the daylights out him, that he will in future leave Susan alone, and I shall reserve the right to report the matter immediately, if I hear of any reoccurrence ... Now, Mrs. Wright, I suggest you get back home and be in when your husband gets back. I will keep Susan here and examine her as I promised. My housekeeper will see her safely on the bus afterwards. This will enable you to have a showdown before she arrives.
Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude, and she shook me warmly by the hand. "I can never thank you enough, doctor; I will do exactly as you say. Send Susan home when you have finished with her, and I will see Harry comes round this evening."
Before finally departing she turned to Susan, and said softly. "Now, be a good girl and tell the doctor all he wants to know and let him examine you. You're very lucky to have such a kind doctor."
She picked up her bag and gloves and was gone.