would be removed. Miss Oaks says the patients that pay the smallest
rates always ring the bells most. It isn't fair that a thirty-dollar
patient should annoy a whole row of eighty-dollar ones and prevent
their bells from being answered."

Mrs. X. "There's nothing made out of Mrs. H. at thirty dollars a week.
She was as contented as possible last night, but this morning she
wanted her bed in the other corner, awnings put on the windows, and
the bureau changed for a chiffonier. Come, we must all go in for
treatment--it wants five minutes of four."

Mrs. G., in despair, as she sees the occupants of the hammocks
dispersing, almost shrieks: "JUST AFTER MY YOUNGEST--"

But the ladies, for some reason or other, do not care to hear anything
about Mrs. G.'s youngest, and she is obliged to seek another
audience.

* * * * *

Saturday

The doctor found me "over-treated" this morning and advised a day of
quiet, with a couple of hours on the roof-garden or under the trees.

I have heard at various times sighs of weariness or discontent or pain
issuing from the room opposite mine, and this afternoon when Miss
Blossom had gone into Number 19 to sit with the haughty Mrs.
Chittenden-Ffollette I stole across the corridor and glanced in at the
half-open door of Number 18.

The quaintest girl raised herself from a mound of sofa-pillows and
exclaimed: "Why, you beautiful thing! Are you Number 17? I didn't know
you looked like that!"

"It's very kind of you," I answered, blushing at this outspoken
greeting; "but I am not beautiful in the least; it is because you do
not expect much from a person who has just crept out of bed. I don't
look any better when I am dressed for a party."

"You don't need to," she said. "Now get on my bed and cuddle under the
afghan and we'll talk till Miss Blossom comes back. Won't she beat you
for being out of your room? Why are you here? You haven't the least
resemblance to a rest cure! What is the matter with you?"

"Backache, sideache, shoulderache, headache, sensation of handcuffs on
wrists, balls and chains on ankles, lack of appetite, and insomnia."

"Is that all? Haven't you any disease?"

"I believe not," I answered humbly, "but the effect is the same as if
I had. Why are you here?" I asked in return, as I looked admiringly at
her shining brown hair, plump, rosy cheeks, and dancing eyes.

"