The surgeon threw an inquiring glance towards Reginald.
"For me!" ejaculated the rector.
"So Mrs. Kenrick said, sir," returned Katherine: "and the moment I brought it in, she went up stairs with it."
"You can in one moment set at rest that point, sir," said the surgeon, with another glance of inquiry towards the rector.
"The laudanum was not for me," answered Mr. Tracy, calmly: "nor did I order my poor housekeeper to obtain any."
"O Katherine!" ejaculated Thomas; "surely—surely, you have not done this dreadful deed!"
"I——a murderess!" almost shrieked the poor girl: "Oh! no—no. God forbid!"
And she clasped her hands together.
The surgeon shook his head mysteriously.
"Merciful heavens!" exclaimed the rector, who was evidently excited to a painful degree, "you do not suspect—you cannot suppose—you do not—cannot imagine that—this young person——"