Mrs. B. "They say Mrs. H. is going to leave to-morrow; she doesn't
like the food or the service."
Mrs. E. "Goodness, she has all the service there is on our floor!
Nobody else gets a chance! She spends her whole silent hour pushing
the electric button."
Mrs. D. "Yes, Miss Oaks declares she 'lays' on it. She says that the
head nurse told Mrs. H. she must ring less frequently, or the bell
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.
* * * * *