Elephant Man - Christine Sparks [90]
“Mr. Treves,” she said at last, “I should very much like to meet the Elephant Man. But not—” she added hastily as a look of alarm covered his face before he could stop it, “—not, perhaps this afternoon. It would scarcely be kind of me to walk in and take the poor gentleman by surprise.” Her eyes twinkled. “We have seen to what shocks that can lead, have we not, gentlemen?”
Treves began to understand why people loved Alexandra. He was immensely relieved that he did not have to put Merrick on display before giving him an extra bath.
The Princess had taken out a little notebook and was scribbling in it with a gold pencil.
“Shall we say—next Wednesday afternoon?” she asked, and again her eyes shone with laughter. “That is—unless Mr. Merrick has any conflicting engagements. I hear he has a crowded social calendar.”
“I can assure Your Royal Highness that Mr. Merrick has no ‘conflicting engagements’ next Wednesday afternoon,” said Carr-Gomm, who had not the slightest idea whether he had or not. “We will be honored to welcome you.”
It seemed that the entire staff of the hospital, plus any patients that were on their feet, were gathered in the front windows to watch the Princess’s departure. Before getting into her carriage she turned and gave them all an elegant little wave, and a cheer went up. Within minutes the whole story of the Committee meeting had gone round the building.
When the carriage had rumbled out of the gate Treves and Carr-Gomm turned to each other jubilantly, but the Chairman, as always, expressed his joy in deceptively moderate terms.
“If anyone,” he said, “has got to Mr. Merrick and denied me the pleasure of being the one to tell him the good news, I shall be excessively angry.”
“Then we’d better hurry, sir.”
Their route took them past Treves’ office, outside which Carr-Gomm stood and fumed impatiently while Treves darted in to get something.
“Was that really necessary, Treves?” he demanded, looking disparagingly at the wrapped parcel that Treves had tucked under his arm.
“Yes, sir. Absolutely necessary.”
At the door to Merrick’s room they found Mothershead, standing guard.
“I’ve made sure no one went in till you came, sir.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Mothershead. Perhaps you would like to come in with us,” said Carr-Gomm.
Treves led the way inside and went straight up to Merrick, who rose apprehensively.
“Good afternoon, John. Mr. Carr-Gomm has something he would like to say to you.”
He deferred to Carr-Gomm, who took center stage with a beaming face.
“Mr. Merrick,” he said formally, “it is my greatest pleasure to welcome you, officially, to the London Hospital. The Governing Committee have voted, unanimously, to provide you with these rooms on a permanent basis. This is your home now. I’m so very, very pleased for you.”
He finished by bending his head forward in anticipation of Merrick’s reply. But the Elephant Man was speechless, whether from joy or disbelief no one could tell. He only looked around them, from Treves, to Carr-Gomm, to Mothershead, who was smiling at him.
“So you see, John,” Treves encouraged him, “there’s no need for a lighthouse. All your friends are here.”
“Welcome home, John,” said Mothershead.
At last Merrick spoke. “My—home—?”
“Yes, John,” said Treves.
“You—” He looked at them all in turn. “—did all this for me?”
“Yes,” said Treves again.
Merrick pulled himself together. “Please—please thank the committee for me. I will do my utmost to merit their kindness.”
He turned away from them slightly and looked at the room as if seeing it for the first time. Treves could sense that only now was it beginning to dawn on him that at last he had a real home, a place of his own.
“My home.” Merrick lingered over the words.
“There is one more thing, John,” said Treves. “Here.” He laid the wrapped parcel on the table, and stood back, indicating for Merrick to open it. He thought he had never known such pleasure and satisfaction as he felt watching Merrick pull off the paper and open the dressing bag. It was plain that the