anxiety, I handed The Kid the foaming mixture.

'Drink,' I panted.

'Oh, mus----' she began.

'Don't say that again!' I exclaimed, overwrought by the intensity of my
emotions. 'Can't you see how serious it is, child? You might die any
minute.'

She drank off the contents of the glass without further question.

'Well, that ought to do it,' commented Henry, looking at a few
iridescent bubbles at the bottom of the glass. 'I made it strong.'

There was a strained silence when I almost seemed to hear my own heart
beats. 'How--how--do you feel, now, darling?' I asked at last.

'Dreadful, thank you, Mama, dear.'

'That isn't enough,' I cried in anguish. 'Can't you----?'

'No, I can't, Mama.'

'This is terrible,' I broke out, fast becoming hysterical. 'What is to
be done! Can nothing save her?'

'I suppose the doctor will bring along a stomach pump,' said Henry,
trying to soothe me.