Room 420, Tuesday Late Afternoon

[ladycfitzgerald]

Anne had been so tired today, she simply couldn't bring herself to get out of bed. She supposed this was dreadfully indulgent slothfulness on her part and could all but hear Mrs. Lynde saying so right at this very moment, but she wasn't feeling well in the slightest and kept drifting in and out of fitful, fevered sleep

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[bookyeve]

Evie hadn't seen Anne around for a few days, so she decided to stop by and bring some cookies for a study session. "Knock, knock," she sang out, suiting the action to the words.

[ladycfitzgerald]

"Enter at your own peril," Anne called out in a mournful voice. "I would be loath to turn away the slightest hope of a ray of sunshine in my moment of feverish despair, but 'ware that you not fall ill yourself!"

[bookyeve]

Evie stared at the door a moment, then poked her head in around the corner. "Oh, dear. Don't tell me you've got the 'flu that's going around? How long have you been feeling poorly?"

[ladycfitzgerald]

"All day," Anne said, her voice muffled by the bedclothes so as not to breathe so much as a single germ in Evie's direction. "I thought I was feeling a bit run down last night, but I'm a horrible unsightly mess now and it's awfully disappointing!"

[bookyeve]

"Oh I am *so* sorry," Evie said, tip-toeing in. "Have you seen a doctor yet? IS there anything I can do to help?"

[ladycfitzgerald]

"I haven't been able to get out of bed," Anne whimpered. "I try, and everything goes so fascinatingly spinny that I can't help but pay closer attention to the motion, and the next thing I know I'm flat on my back again."

[bookyeve]

Evie gave Anne an appalled look, that melted into one of determination. "Right, then. Past time. If you can sit up, I'll get you decent for a visit to the doctor. They can't make house calls right now, or I'd simply do that. But you *must* get some medicine, Anne! You don't want to feel like this for weeks!"

Evie hoped she was exaggerating, but felt it might be the kind of thing to appeal to Anne's sensibilities.

[ladycfitzgerald]

"But I can't stay like this for weeks!" Anne blurted out. "I've classes to think of, and work!"

A look of determination crossed her face, and she made an effort to sit up. "Right you are, Evie. Perhaps some darkly handsome healer will nurse me back to health . . . oh!" The mere thought had her slightly more animated.

[bookyeve]

Evie giggled, and hurried to fetch a clean blouse and skirt for Anne, snagging her hairbrush from the dress. "Here. Get out of that nightgown, and I'll help you into these, and make sure your hair is presentable. Then we'll order up a rickshaw and have it deliver us downtown." She frowned a little, then hesitantly said, "Perhaps I should pack a bag? Just in case they want you to stay overnight? I'm certain they won't, but...."

[ladycfitzgerald]

"If they do, I mustn't look disreputable or unkempt," said decisive Anne as she struggled into the clean clothing. "This illness is already unattractive enough, don't you think? Being prepared can hardly be a bad thing."

[bookyeve]

"And, and, isn't a positive attitude supposed to help combat illness? Not that you're ready to dance a tarantella, but perhaps feeling more presentable will help you to actually recover," Evie offered. "Plus, you're quite right, I'm certain some nice doctor shall at the very least be there to make this much less uncomfortable for you." She tied Anne's hair back with a ribbon, patting it into place. "There. Should I fetch anyone else? Or do you think you can walk to the front lobby, if you lean on my arm?"

[ladycfitzgerald]

"Your company and assistance will quite suffice, I think," Anne assured her, feeling such treatment deserved at least a curtsey in gratitude; unfortunately, the curtsey nearly deposited her neatly into a sitting position on the floor. "Oh, dear . . . yes, I think we'd best go soon."

[bookyeve]

"Right, best speed, and best foot forward," Evie said, hauling one arm around her waist. "Forward! March!"

And they decamped to the doctor's.