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A stir at the door heralded the doctor He looked at them all iinning to examine James, and he cut short Stonor's curt explanation with a nod 'Right, every­one out of the room now Where the hell is that ambu­lance?'

The nextJaen mask, while the doctor walked beside him

'Iafter them

Clare stood staring after her, her white face drawn Stonor laid a hand on her arm and she looked round at him

'I'll drive you to the hospital,' he said gently She nodded, silent and tearless, yet visibly on the point of tears

Then Stonoron her arer and shock

'You can't go in the ambulance,' he said

'Lethiesture

He caught hold of her again, with renewed force, his fingers biting into her wrist The dark eyes were flintlike

'You can't go in the ambulance,' he repeated

'Who says I can't? You?' Her voice was contemptu­ous

'Yes,' he said The sirily on his

'I have a right to be with him He's my father' Her voice had lost some of its certainty

'I'll drive you and your mother to the hospital in my car,' he said

'Don't bother,' she snapped 'I'll take a taxi'