Elephant Man - Christine Sparks [110]
“And Her Royal Highness, of course, also ‘flatly refused to be kept away,’ ” Carr-Gomm mused.
Princess Alexandra had arrived the previous afternoon. At her own request she had been informed the moment the Elephant Man had been restored to the hospital, and as soon as she was assured he was well enough to see her she had come for a short, quiet visit. It had ended with her own signed photograph joining Merrick’s collection. It stood now, sharing the place of honor with Merrick’s mother and Mrs. Kendal, on the table, separate from the others on the mantelpiece.
“John cried over it when she’d gone,” said Treves. “When he’d recovered, he said he wanted to write and thank her. I’ve got the result here. I thought you might like to see it before it goes …”
He took out a sheet of paper and gave it to the Chairman. Carr-Gomm regarded it with a frown.
“I know it’s a little difficult to read,” said Treves apologetically. “But he has to write with his left hand …”
“It isn’t that,” said Carr-Gomm. “It’s just that I don’t think Her Royal Highness is used to being addressed as ‘My Dear Princess.’ But in the circumstances I cannot believe she will object. And I am sure she’d prefer to receive Mr. Merrick’s own letter than some colorless official ‘version’ edited by ourselves.”
“I agree, sir. I shall send it just as it is.”
Carr-Gomm leaned back in his chair. “What do you plan to do in the future, Treves? I need hardly say that you will have my full support.”
“My only ‘plan,’ sir, is to make what is left of his life as happy as possible. Whatever he wants, I shall try to see to it that he has. He has a great longing to go to the theater. I’ve written to Mrs. Kendal asking what she advises. I received a letter back this morning saying that she will visit him this week to discuss the matter.”
“Another exception?” said Carr-Gomm pleasantly.
“When I said no visitors, I meant of the kind he had before. John’s true friends will always be admitted.”
Mrs. Kendal duly arrived and proved herself to have been hard at work. With an actress’s flair for the right props and scenery she had arranged not merely that John should be taken to a performance at Drury Lane Theatre, but that he should do so against a background that fulfilled his dreams, and that the supporting cast should also be perfect. What ladies’ man wanted to attend the theater except in the company of elegantly dressed ladies?
“It’s all arranged,” she told Treves as they walked along the corridor toward Merrick’s rooms. “I’ll send over some evening gowns for the nurses you select to accompany Mr. Merrick. You’ll be using the royal entrance and Princess Alexandra herself will be there to welcome him to her private box.”
“I’m very grateful to you, Mrs. Kendal. This is just the thing to help him forget his ordeal. John will be very excited.”
“Does he know anything yet?”
“No. I’ve left it for you to tell him. He’ll enjoy that more.”
She smiled. “It’s a miracle he ever got back. And I’m sure Mr. Treves, under your expert care, he’ll have many happy years ahead.”
“I fear not, Mrs. Kendal. Even in the short time he was gone the size of his head has increased rapidly … as has his pain.”
She stopped walking. “How awful for John.”
“And yet, not once have any of us heard him complain.”
She faced him. “Is he—dying then?”
“Yes,” he said simply. “There is nothing more frustrating, nothing that makes a physician feel more useless than standing by, watching his patient deteriorate. And when that patient is a friend …” With these last words he seemed to have been addressing himself almost more than her. Now he added abruptly, “No, there’s nothing I can do.”
He thought she was going to say something else, but she only walked on in silence until they had almost reached the door. Then she stopped again and spoke quietly, “How much does John know?”
“I’ve told him nothing, and I honestly think he suspects nothing. How should he? He’s grown stronger since he returned and he thinks he’s recovering. He thinks he’s going to spend a long, happy