They put me back in the pads. They let me wear the gown and boots, however; and they gave me a basin of tea.
''When I get out, you''ll be sorry!'' I said, as they closed the door on me. ''I got a mother in London. She is looking for me, in every house in the land!''
Nurse Spiller nodded. ''Is she?'' she said. ''That''s yours, and all our other ladies'', then''; and she laughed.
I think the tea—which tasted bitter—must have had a draught in it. I slept through a day—or it might have been two days; and when I finally came to myself, I came to stupid. I let them take me, stumbling, back to the room with the beds. Dr Christie made his tour, and held my wrist.
''You are calmer today, Mrs Rivers,'' he said; and my mouth being dry, from the draught and from sleeping, it was as much as I could do to unstick my tongue