"No," was the answer; "not one drop."
"If she had—"
The girl shuddered; then, standing up, she went nearer to Mrs. Cragg.
"You didn't know, of course. You didn't think what you were doing. I suppose you fancied it was her medicine."
"Dot pointed to the mantelshelf. I asked her."
"No. That stood there. It oughtn't to have been. But we kept the medicine in the cupboard. That is only meant for—" Pattie broke down afresh. "It ought not to have been left anywhere within reach," she went on presently. "But, oh, if I had not been in time—"
"If Mrs. Smithers hadn't been to see me, she'd have had it all ever so long ago," muttered Mrs. Cragg. "And if you hadn't come back just when you did—"
Mrs. Cragg spoke in a strange, husky voice, and before Pattie could answer she asked abruptly:
"If Dot had drunk that, would she have died?" Pattie whispered a "Yes." Mrs. Cragg's shoulders shook, and Pattie's hand came on her kindly.
"I don't know, I'm sure, whatever makes you so nice to me," faltered Mrs. Cragg. "You've behaved uncommon well, I must say. And I've treated you bad, I know that. I don't know whatever made me. But I shan't forget this. I shan't ever forget it." Mrs. Cragg began to choke and gulp. Dot seemed inclined to go to sleep after the morning's agitations.