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cry〃she would have moved forward； but reeled； and her husband's
arms supported her as she sank into a swoon。
〃Carry her to her room；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃I will come；〃 and； when
George had borne her away； he kissed the lifeless cheek； and
reverently placed the little corpse in the cradle； but； as he rose
from doing so； 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 policehave mercy on the poor
woman。〃
〃MercyI'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 herI'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
downstairsdo 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 downbe 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 spent her time in watching her； the nurse being prevented from
continuing her drug； she was； of course； so miserable without it；
that Preston had ventured on proposing it； to which Mrs。 Rivers had
replied with displeasure sufficient to prevent her from declaring how
much she had previously given。 Preston was in an agony of distress
for her little charge； as well as of fear for herself； and could
hardly understand what her error had been。 Dr。 May soon saw that；
though not highly principled； her sorrow was sincere； and that she
still wept bitterly over the consequences of her treatment； when he
told her that she had nothing to fear from the law； and that he would
protect her from Mr。 Rivers。
Her confession was hardly over when Meta knocked at the door； pale
and frightened。 〃Oh； Dr。 May； do come to poor Flora！ I don't know
what to do； and George is in such a state！〃
Dr。 May made a sound of sorrow and perplexity； and Meta； as she went
down before him； asked； in a low； horror…stricken whisper； 〃Did
Preston really〃
〃Not knowingly；〃 said Dr。 May。 〃It is the way many children have
gone； but I never thought〃
They had come to Flora's dressing…room。 Her bedroom door was open；
and George was pacing heavily up and down the length of both
apartments； fiercely indignant。 〃Well！〃 said he； advancing eagerly
on Dr。 May； 〃has she confessed？〃
〃But Flora！〃 said Dr。 May； instead of answering him。 Flora lay on
her bed； her face hidden on her pillow； only now and then moaning。
〃Flora； my poor； poor child！〃 said her father； bending down to raise
her； and taking her hand。
She moved away； so as to bury her face more completely； but there was
life in the movement； and he was sufficiently reassured on her
situation to be able to attend to George； who was only impatient to
rush off to take his revenge。 He led him into the outer room； where
Meta was waiting； and forced upon his unwilling conviction that it
was no case for the law。 The child had not been killed by any one
dose； but had rather sunk from the want of stimulus； to which she had
been accustomed。 As to any pity for the woman； George would not hear
of it。 She was still； in his eyes； the destroyer of bis child； and；
when he found the law would afford him no vengeance； he insisted that
she should be turned out of his house at once。
〃George！〃 called a hollow voice from the next room； and hurrying
back； they saw Flora sitting up； and； as well as trembling limbs
allowed； endeavouring to rise to her feet； while burning spots were
in her cheeks。
〃George； turn me out of the house too！ If Preston killed her； I
did！〃 and she gave a ghastly laugh。
George threw his arms round her； and laid her on her bed again； with
many fond words； and strength which she had not power to withstand。
Dr。 May； in the meantime； spoke quickly to Meta in the doorway。 〃She
must go。 They cannot see her again； but has she any friends in
London？〃
〃I think not。〃
〃Find out。 She must not be sent adrift。 Send her to the Grange； if
nothing better offers。 You must judge。〃
He felt that he could confide in Meta's discretion and promptitude；
and returned to the parents。
〃Is she gone？〃 said George； in a whisper； which he meant should be
unheard by his wife； who had sunk her face in her pillows again。
〃Going。 Meta is seeing to it。〃
〃And that woman gets off free！〃 cried George； 〃while my poor little
girl〃 and； no longer occupied by the hope of retribution； he gave
way to an overpowering burst of grief。
His wife did not rouse herself to comfort him； but still lay
motionless； excepting for a convulsive movement that passed over her
frame at each sound from him； and her father felt her pulse bound at
the same time with corresponding violence； as if each of his deep…
drawn sobs were a mortal thrust。 Going to him； Dr。 May endeavoured
to repress his agitation； and lead him from the room； but he could
not； at first； prevail on him to listen or understand； still less； to
quit Flora。 The attempt to force on him the perception that his
uncontrolled sorrow was injuring her； and that he ought to bear up
for her sake； only did further harm； for； when he rose up and tried
to caress her； there was the same torpid； passive resistance； the
same burying her face from the light； and the only betrayal of
consciousness in the agonised throbs of her pulse。
He became excessi