Show 5 Where here are you going Nettie asked Mrs Ross as her daughter entered the room dressed for the street Im going to find out what has become of Lennie Mama I hadn't heard a word of her until yesterday when Lutie told me the poor poor girl was nearly worn out out out-on on her feet nearly all the time day and night She will have a few hours off today and I must see her Then I suppose you'll not be home before dark It depends on how much she has to tell me By by Half an hour later she was rapping at Helens Helen's door A tired voice called out Come in and Nettie entered Why Lennie are aft you sick she cried hurrying to the sofa where Helen with dark circled eyes and pale cheeks lay propped with pillows j k t Oh Oh no just no-just just dead tired that's all Take off your hat and bring brings the rocker up Excuse my my laziness But what what what- t Nothing dangerous dear Ive I've just been walking up and down j three flights of stairs ever since I saw you you you-a a month is it and it-and and I think Ill I'll be able to fly in in another month when Im I'm trained down I another fifty pounds or so Why Nett Im I'm getting thin as a rail thin rail thin do you hear and in pathetic confirmation of her words she passed both arms under her leather belt and waited for Nettie to speak poor Ioor girlie you do look tired out said Nettie sympathetically then after a pause But But It Yes I know what youre you're after No not one adventure thus far far far- Ive I've had no chance to think about my patients for thinking about their medicines It N No 0 lonely young man friendless batchelor disabled millionaire widower widower widower-or or anything suggested Nettie coaxingly Not a thing my dear Ive I've been kept dabbling over sickening foods foods food food for the sick call they it or it-or or else shaking pillows for a rheumatic old crank who thinks it is his business to make eyes at all the nurses they nurses they say he has proposed ed to them all from Sister Superior Superior Su Superior to the chief cook and they say my turn turn turn-It Will be next Hear hear oh oh dear hear you girl what a story that will make It cried Nettie enthusiastically she drew as a pencil and some cards from her purse Go on please 1 she added assuming a like business-like gravity You goose cried Helen laughing g do lido you imagine Im I'm going to to- to Of course you are every are every word But first tell me what sort of ofa a looking looking- N Nonsense 1 hes he's fifty with a blushing bald head fringed with gray r red gray d hair and he has a chin like a cactus Why cactus Why I-Why Why one day and Helen sat upright in her earnestness II one day when he had called me from the hall to shake up his pillows I would much rather have shaken him 1 the big booby actually kissed my hand and ugh and ugh I She shivered and rubbed the back of the offended hand over the silk pillow pillow pil pil- low beside her You mean that you can feel the prickles yet laughed Nettie but Helen looked at her in reproachful silence and sank back upon her her- I sofa without even a smile Has he pro pro pro- No more about him please please please-it it gives me nausea nausea- dear Lets Let's talk about you Nett you haven't told me your doings Nettie good gave a report of her latest stories their acceptance by a well-known well magazine and her hopes for the future to all of which Helen listened with tender interest 1 I Now what have in view Lennie she asked you having concluded concluded concluded con con- her own recital v I Next week Im I'm to have my nerves destroyed in the operating room the week following Im I'm to queen it over the top floor other people will have to get thin waiting on me then after that I am to togo togo togo go on night duty for the for the Dickens only knows how long 1 My program program program pro pro- gram is well filled you see and there is a continuous line of such programs An IAn idle mind mind mind- Is a forbidden luxury to me me for the next two or three years so you needn't moralize Helen my dear called a sweet sweet sweet- Voice from the next room did id you say you had to be at the hospital by five o'clock Yes mother and Ill I'll have to take the next car I suppose Tell Lutie to bring me my rubbers please Will you go with me to the car No I wont won't stop to button my coat Is my hat straight My hair isn't very smooth but it'll have to do Ouch that hurts better lean on my arm Lennie and Ill I'll be your crutch to the car s If I J I need one sure Everybody will know now Im I'm h headed for forthe the the- hospital hos hospital hos- hos s- s I 1 I IThen pital wont won't they Then after bidding the family good night the two girls went away together |