“She’s been doped,” answered the nurse shortly. “Soothing syrup or something probably, to keep her quiet. Sleeps a lot, doesn’t she?”
“Yes. She never seems really awake. O Miss Kennan, I never knew——”
“I see. Well, you’ll have to know now. Find out what has been given her, and fix all her food after this, yourself. Can you?”
“I don’t know. I’ll try to.”
“If you don’t, she won’t need food much longer,” said the nurse.
“O, how can any one be so wicked!” cried Olga.
“It isn’t wickedness—it’s ignorance mostly—laziness sometimes, when a mother doesn’t want to be troubled with the care of a baby. Probably this one had an overdose this morning.”
Olga stood silently thinking. Yes, Sonia had given the baby her bottle that morning, and always gave it to her at night. She went into the bedroom and searched the closet and the bed. Sonia usually made the bed. Under the pillow Olga found a bottle which she handed without a word, to the nurse. Miss Kennan nodded.
“That’s it,” she said briefly.
Opening the window Olga flung the bottle passionately into the street.