and
Norman came dashing into it, and up to me.

"Amy," he said, in a loud whisper which could be heard by all, "mother
says don't let any one touch that stuff of yours. It's awful!"

"Awful" indeed! But it was too late; enough tasting had been done to
cover me, as I felt, with everlasting disgrace.

"Amy was so awfully cock-a-hoop about her new dish, too," began Norman;
"and now----"

But his brotherly remarks were cut short by my left-hand neighbor, with
an intimation, that, if he had any regard for his physical or mental
well-being, he would at least postpone them.

Overcome with mortification and chagrin, I would fain have left the
room, not only to hide my diminished head, but also to consult cousin
Serena on the possible cause of this mishap, when Jim came up to me,
and said, in an aside even louder than Norman's,--

"Miss Amy, it wouldn't poison none of 'em, would it?"

When Jim had any thing on his mind it must come out, regardless of time
or place; and there was that in the boy's tone and manner which
instantly convinced me that he knew more than appeared on the surface,
and I turned hastily to him:--

"Poison any one? Why should it?" I asked.

"It's the liniment, Miss Amy," he answered nervously; "an', if they was
poisoned, me or you might be took up. We'd best have a doctor, maybe."

Matters were growing serious; and springing from my seat, without
apology to my guests, I bade the boy come into Thomas's pantry. Thither
I was followed by Fred and Edward, who heard the confession of the
frightened lad.

"It's the liniment, Miss Amy," he repeated. "Mary Jane's liniment for
her rheumatics; but I think it ought to be her to be took up more than
you an' me."

"Speak out, boy, and tell us what you mean," said Edward, imperatively;
for he felt, that, if there was any reason for Jim's alarm, there was
no time to be lost.

Thus pressed, Jim said that when I had sent him for the flavoring, he
had caught up a bottle which he supposed to be the right one, and ran
back without consulting the old cook.

Nothing doubting, I had made use of the contents; and he had possessed
his soul in peace until a few minutes since, when Thomas had sent him
on an errand to the kitchen, and he had heard Mary Jane bewailing the
loss of her bottle of "rheumatiz liniment." She at once charged him
with hiding it to torment her, but, before he could defend himself, one
of the other servants asked what kind of a bottle it was; to