"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.
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