Soon after she had left, the door opened, and Cornelius entered. He looked grave. I prepared for a lecture, but he only sat down by me and said very gently, "Margaret, why will you not drink the sedative?"
I did not answer. He tasted the beverage, then said earnestly, "It is not unpleasant; try."
He wanted to approach the cup to my lips, but I turned away, and said with some emotion, "I don't want to sleep."
"Why so, child?"
"Because I shall not wake up in time; you will go away and leave me."
"Margaret, why should I leave you?"
"Because you don't like me as Papa did; you do not care about me," I replied, a little excitedly; for I was now quite conscious that the affection was all on my side.
He looked surprised at the reproach and all it implied, and to my mortification he also looked amused. I turned my face to the wall; he bent over me and saw that my eyes were full of tears.
"Crying!" he said chidingly.
"You laugh at me," I replied indignantly.