"Then to you I will give the instructions, for the mother seems incapable of understanding."
Very carefully he went over everything that she was to do in detail, telling her that perhaps upon her the life of the child depended, then took his leave, promising to call again later in the day.
"Liz," Leonie said, when she was again alone with the mother and her unfortunate child, "you must go at once and get what the doctor has prescribed. You need not fear but that I will take the best care possible of Dick."
"Malignant diphtheria!" whispered the poor woman, as she took the paper from the girl's hand. "And Ben beat him when he was dying! God forgive him, for I never can!"
She left the room mumbling some words to herself, words that seemed to proceed from a breaking heart; but Leonie scarcely knew that she had gone before she returned.
The medicine was prepared; but with all his frail strength the child resisted, until Leonie bent her tender head and kissed him.
"Won't you take it for me, Dick?" she whispered. "It will make you well, dear, and then there will be such fun for you and me. Don't you want to be well for poor mamma's sake?"
He turned his head without a word and did as she bade him, his suffering terrible to witness. Then pressing his head gently down upon her shoulder, Leonie rocked him until he slept.
Liz watched in a silence that was pitiful. Crouched down where she could listen to the slow tones of the soothing voice, she watched, hoped a little, and perhaps prayed.
"Had you not better lay him down?" she whispered, when quite sure that he slept.