She made a long call on Mrs.Watson in her section, and listened patiently to her bemoanings over the noise of the car which had kept her from sleeping; the "lady in gray over there" who had taken such a long time to dress in the morning that she--Mrs.
Watson--could not get into the toilet-room at the precise moment that she wished; the newspaper boy who would not let her "just glance over" the Denver "Republican" unless she bought and paid for it ("and I only wanted to see the Washington news, my dear, and something about a tin wedding in East Dedham.

My mother came from there, and I recognized one of the names and--But he took it away quite rudely; and when I complained, the conductor wouldn't attend to what I--"); and the bad piece of beefsteak which had been brought for her breakfast at the eating-station.

Katy soothed and comforted to the best of her ability, and then plunged into her subject, explaining Phil's very delicate condition and the necessity for constant watchfulness on the part of Clover, and saying most distinctly and in the plainest of English that Mrs.Watson must not expect Clover to take care of her too.

The old lady was not in the least offended; but her replies were so incoherent that Katy was not sure that she understood the matter any better for the explanation.
"Certainly, my dear, certainly.

Your brother doesn't appear so very sick; but he must be looked after, of course.