The doctor folded the paper again and handed it to her. "Does this look like the prescription?"
"Yes, of course. It is the prescription."
"I'm afraid not. Come and look."
Esther seized the paper eagerly and saw—a neatly written recipe for salad dressing!
Hot and cold with mortification, she stared at it blankly. "I have been nicely fooled," she said in a low voice.
"Am I permitted to smile, or would it hurt your feelings?"
"It is not at all funny! Of course the real prescription has been removed. She must have suspected. You see, I asked her to let me have it. Oh!" with sudden shame and anger. "She guessed that I might take it, don't you see?"
"I am afraid you are right. But now at least I should think that you have done your whole duty. It would look as if Mrs. Coombe was herself aware of the inadvisability of continuing this prescription. Why else should she be so careful to prevent you showing it to me? At the same time she is determined to go on using it. We cannot prevent her."
"Can we do nothing?"
"When I see her I shall be better able to judge."