"What a bother, and Pattie not come back! Well, tell Mrs. Smithers to come into the passage. I can't leave the child, and if I have her in the room, somebody is sure to say it's bad for Dot." Mrs. Cragg had poured out the dose, and she put it on the little table, going outside the open door. Mrs. Smithers came briskly up. "I haven't got a moment to spare," she said; "but I want you to come along presently. I've got something to tell you. There's going to be that flower-show next week, and I mean to get a new bonnet, and you ought too. And we'll settle to go together." "Yes, I know; I've heard about it. I'd like to go with you." "Well, how soon can you come?" "As soon as ever I can get away. Pattie's gone out—such nonsense, this time of day!—and I'm shut up here. The child's past everything, with her whims and fancies. Pattie and Cragg do their best to spoil her. But I shan't stop one minute longer than I have to." "I met Pattie walking along—going off to enjoy herself. As pert as could be." "Shouldn't wonder!" "Seemed to make out that she was doing all the work of nursing Dot, and was so useful she couldn't be spared. If I was you, I'd take care and not let her get the upper hand in this house. You'll live to repent it some day, see if you don't." "She shan't have the upper hand with my will." "Well, you just come along to me as soon as ever you can. While Pattie is living on you and your husband, you'd best make use of her. I can tell you, I gave her a bit of my mind, and she didn't like it—not at all. I told her it wasn't likely you'd want her father's daughter to have much to do with Dot. You should just have seen how she looked. There's Dot beginning to cry. You'll have to go back to her." Mrs. Cragg did go back, not in the best of humours. It was with an annoyed jerk that she took up the medicine-glass. "What a silly child you are to be always crying!" she said impatiently. "I wish you would have some sense. You must take your medicine now. Pattie doesn't mean to get back yet, it's easy to see." "I not going to, till Pattie tomes," sobbed Dot. That aroused Mrs. Cragg's opposition. She gave no second look towards the bottle, but brought the glass to the bedside, and held it ready. "Now, Dot." "No, no!" shrieked Dot. Mrs. Cragg laid a hand on Dot's shoulder, and Dot buried her face in the pillow. "No, no, no, no!" she cried loudly. Mrs. Cragg endeavoured to lift Dot up, and to force the edge of the glass between her clenched teeth. Dot struggled and screamed, and wrenched herself away. Mrs. Cragg by this time was really angry, ascribing Dot's resistance to Pattie's influence. She took firm grip of the child, and again did her best to pour the liquid through those fast-shut teeth. Dot fought hard.