"I've been putting drops into Miss MacVane's eyes in the afternoon, so that Miss Knowlton wouldn't have to stay, and to-day there's something wrong with it."
Stephen took the flask roughly.
"It's different from yesterday," said Ellen, "there's a great deal more of it, and there's an odor."
Stephen held the little bottle with both hands.
"If I did wrong, I'm sorry. I can go to Miss MacVane's house if you want me to."
At last Stephen looked up.
"Couldn't you smell this stuff?" he demanded. "Couldn't she? Where is she?"
"I didn't use it!" cried Ellen.
"Oh, you didn't!"
"I used distilled water. I didn't say anything to her."