In the evening the girls lit their lanterns, moving around Tessie's pallet to shake out their cushions and pillows, preparing a sultry welcome. She woke in the haziness and hidden in a veil of shadow she sat up. Looking at the girls, now preened and plumped with shiny faces, she had the instinct to slip out the back door without a word, but she still had unfinished business.
Shaking off the cobwebs of sleep and wrapping her cloak around her, Tessie weaved her way through the girls in the front room and headed upstairs to Aileen's room. Hearing a rasping burst of coughing and spluttering, Tessie pushed open the door to see Aileen folded over, beating on her chest.
"Close the door," Aileen barked, and flung herself back again, catching her breath.
"Are yer sick?"
"No. It's like this when
