"Perhaps you could sleep a bit," suggested Anne.
"I'd like a cup o' tea," said the woman, "but it's a lot of trouble. Can't you look where you're going!" she broke out impatiently, as Anne, turning quickly, caught her foot in the chair, overturning it with a crash. "You made me jump so."
"Well, I am sorry," said Anne, humbly.
"Never mind," said the bed-ridden woman, her impatience exhausted. At that moment the door opened with a bang and a stout, middle-aged woman entered noisily.
"What a noise you make!" said the bed-ridden woman peevishly. "You're getting too fat."
"Fat people's better-tempered than thin ones," retorted the other carelessly. "Good evening, Miss Hilton! Has she been telling you all she's got to put up with more than other people?"
"Well now," returned Anne with decisive heartiness, "I don't think we've been speaking about herself at all, except to express gratitude for a very little service that I did her. We've spent a pleasant hour together."
"I'm glad to hear it," said the woman, going to the fire and rattling the irons noisily between the bars.
"You noisy thing. Can't you make a less din!" said the bed-ridden woman, biting her lip.
"Other people's got to live in the house besides you," said the woman.
"If you want so much attention, you know where you can get it."