the
sobbing nurse exclaimed, "Oh, sir! oh, sir! indeed, I never did--"

"Never did what?" said Dr. May sternly.

"I never gave the dear baby anything to do her harm," cried Preston
vehemently.

"You gave her this," said Dr. May, pointing to the bottle of Godfrey's
Cordial.

He could say no more, for her master was hurrying back into the room.
Anger was the first emotion that possessed him, and he hardly gave an
answer to Dr. May's question about Flora. "Meta is with her! Where is
that woman? Have you given her up to the police?"

Preston shrieked and sobbed, made incoherent exclamations, and was much
disposed to cling to the doctor.

"Silence!" said Dr. May, lifting his hand, and assuming a tone and
manner that awed them both, by reminding them that death was present in
the chamber; and, taking his son-in-law out, and shutting the door, he
said, in a low voice,

"I believe this is no case for the police--have mercy on the poor
woman."

"Mercy--I'll have no mercy on my child's murderer! You said she had
destroyed my child."

"Ignorantly."

"I don't care for ignorance! She destroyed her--I'll have justice," said
George doggedly.

"You shall," said Dr. May, laying his hand on his arm; "but it must be
investigated, and you are in no state to investigate. Go downstairs--do
not do anything till I come to you."

His peremptory manner imposed on George, who, nevertheless, turned round
as he went, saying, with a fierce glare in his eyes, "You will not let
her escape."

"No. Go down--be quiet."

Dr. May returned to Preston, and had to assure her that Mr. Rivers was
not gone to call the police, before he could bring her to any degree of
coherence. She regarded him as her only friend, and soon undertook to
tell the whole truth, and he perceived that it was, indeed, the truth.
She had not known that the cordial was injurious, deeming it a panacea
against fretfulness, precious to nurses, but against which ladies always
had a prejudice, and, therefore, to be kept secret. Poor little Leonora
had been very fretful and uneasy when Flora's many avocations had first
caused her to be set aside, and Preston had had recourse to the remedy
which, lulling her successfully, was applied with less moderation and
judgment than would have been shown by a more experienced person, till
gradually the poor child became dependent on it for every hour of rest.
When her mother, at last, became aware of her unsatisfactory condition,
and