“You are afraid I'll stay too long and wear Margery out? I promise to go the minute she looks tired. You can trust her with me, can't you?” “But she has her nurse, there's no earthly reason--” “Except that she wants me to stay. You'll feel happier, too, knowing that she isn't lonely.” “But don't you want to go to the tea?” “Oh, I did a little. But I think that was because you and Connie and Margery said I looked nice. I'm awfully squeezed and uncomfortable; I wonder if Margery can't lend me a dressing sacque?” Thus it was that Mrs. Sequin went off to the Bartrums' in a very bad humor, leaving the two girls chattering together in the pink boudoir, with the nurse banished to the lower regions. “Don't you want some fresh air?” asked Miss Lady, when she had stood the heat as long as she could. “You may open the door,” said Margery, “we never leave the window up on account of drafts.” “But I can wrap you up, and put the screen up. There! You can't take cold with all that on. It's the kind of day that makes me want to be on a horse, galloping through the woods with the wind in my face.” Margery watched Miss Lady's quick motion as she opened all the windows behind the ruffled curtains, and let in a current of fresh invigorating air. “How young you are!” she said. “Years and years younger than I feel. I can't realize you are married and have three step-children.” “Neither can I,” said Miss Lady. “I'm always forgetting it. Wouldn't you like to sit up for a while?” “Oh! I can't. I have to lie perfectly quiet.” “Who said so?” “Everybody does who has nervous prostration. The doctors say that my nerves are nothing but quivering wires. I suppose I went too hard last winter, but of course I couldn't drop out in the middle of my first season.” “I don't believe it would hurt you a bit to sit up. If I fix that big rocker will you try it?” “But I haven't sat up for six weeks. When I try it in bed I have such tingly sensations.” “That's because your legs are straight out. Let's try it in the chair, with them hanging down.” “I'll try it, but I know I can't stand it. There! Thank you so much! You wouldn't think that a year ago I was as strong as you are! Why, between October and March I went to over a hundred and fifty entertainments, besides the theaters and opera.” “Good heavens!” cried Miss Lady aghast. “Of course, about New Year's, I began to wobble, but mother had me take massage and electricity and kept me going until Lent. After that I collapsed until summer. Then we went to White Sulphur, where the Dillinghams have a cottage, I had to lie down every afternoon, but I was always able to be up for the dances.” The nurse coming in with a long flower box, paused in surprise at the sight of her patient sitting up, then discreetly tiptoed out again. “Somebody has sent you some flowers!” cried Miss Lady excitedly. “How nice! Shall I open the box?” “Just as you like. They are probably from Lee. He sends them now instead of coming.”