"I hate beef-tea," I said when I had recovered. "Besides, it is only a stimulant, and not a food."
"How do you know that?" she asked.
"I saw it in mother's medical book." I spoke carelessly.
"Where is it?" Her voice was sharp.
"Down the bed."
She dived gently but firmly under the clothes and removed the book which I had had such trouble in purloining from mother by bribing Amelia.
"Is there anything else you have read in it?"
"No," I said, "I've not had time. I was just running through the index when my eye caught the word beef-tea."
"What were you going to look for?"
"Spines," I returned promptly. "As mine has gone a bit wrong I thought I would like a little information about it."