"Did you drink at Dr. Harpe's suggestion?" he demanded in growing wrath.
She wadded the handkerchief between her palms and swallowed hard before she shook her head.
"No."
"She should never come here again if I thought you were not telling me the truth."
Agitation leaped into her eyes beneath their lowered lids and she blurted in a kind of desperation—
"But I am—it was my fault—I suggested it—she had nothing to do with it!"
"Am I to understand that you have no intention of respecting my wishes in this matter?"
She arose suddenly and began weeping upon his shoulder. The action and her tears softened him a little.
"Am I, Augusta?"
"No; I'll never do it again—honest truly."