THE MEM BRA NO US CRO UP. 89 



^^ Mortimer ! Do you want to bring the judgment upon Baby, too! " 



Then she began to cry, but suddenly exclaimed : ■■■ 



"The doctor must have sent medicines! " 



I said : 



"Certainly. They are here. I was only waiting for you to give me a chance." 



" Well do give thera to me ! Don't you know that every moment is precious 

 now ? But what was the use in sending medicines, when he knows that the disea^se 

 is incurable .^ " "'• ■" ~ 



I said that while there was life there was hope. 



" Hope ! Mortimer, you know no more what you are talking about than the child 

 unborn. If you would — . As I live, the directions say give one teaspoonful once 

 an hour ! Once an hour ! — as if we had a whole year before us to save the child 

 in ! Mortimer, please hurry. Give the poor perishing thing a table-spoonful, and 

 try to be quick! " 



" Why, my dear, a table-spoonful might — " 



"Don't drive me frantic! There, there, there, my precious, my own; it's 



nasty bitter stuff, but it's good for Nelly — good for Mother's precious darling; and 

 it will make her well. There, there, there, put the little head on Mamma's breast 

 and go to sleep, and pretty soon— Oh, I know she can't live till morning ! Morti- 

 mer, a table-spoonful every half hour will—. Oh, the child needs belladonna too ; I 

 know she does— and aconite. Get them, Mortimer. Now do let me have my way. 

 You know nothing about these things." 



We now went to bed, placing the crib close to my wife's pillow. All this turmoil 

 had worn upon me, and within two minutes I was something more than half asleep. 

 Mrs. McWilliams roused me : 



"Darling, is that register turned on? " 



"No." 



" I thought as much. Please turn it on at once. This room is cold." 



I turned it on, and presently fell asleep again. I was aroused once more : 



" Dearie, would you mind moving the crib to your side of the bed .' It is nearer 

 The register." 



I moved it, but had a collision with the rug and woke up the child. I dozed off 



