“I’m very sorry,” she said, “but a number of new patients are expected; there’s nothing for it but to get rid of you. It is a pity, for I can see you are both very weak.”
“What, me too?” said the woman in the other bed. “I can hardly stand; I tried just now to get across the room.”
“I’m very sorry, but we’ve new patients coming, and there’s all our spring cleaning. Have you any place to go to?”
“No place except a lodging,” said Esther; “and I have only two pounds five now.”
“What’s the use in taking us at all if you fling us out on the street when we can hardly walk?” said the other woman. “I wish I had gone and drowned myself. I was very near doing it. If I had it would be all over now for me and the poor baby.”
“I’m used to all this ingratitude,” said the matron. “You have got throu
