"Couple o' days, I guess. Was yo' sick, Miss Thomas'?"
Thomasina rose unsteadily.
"No."
"Shall I write anything on the slate?"
"No, thank you, Virginia."
"Can I get you a glass o' water, Miss Thomas'?"
"No, thank you."
With a dragging step, Thomasina proceeded on her way. She opened her door and entered the hall and looked up the broad stairway toward the second floor. The stairway seemed very steep, and she stepped quickly into her parlor and shut the door and sat down in the nearest chair. By this time she looked like death.