I won't go to bed yet! I want my medicine. It's time for my medicine now. I won't go to bed till I've had my sleeping tablets. John Speaker Where are they, Cousin Fanny? Cousin Fanny On top of the bookcase there. The small phial. [_John Speaker goes to the bookcase and begins to rummage for phial, while John Thinker says, meditatively_:] John Thinker I suppose if one ever gave her the wrong medicine by mistake it would be called by some ugly name! Mary Thinker People like her never get the wrong medicine given to them, and never take it by mistake themselves. John Speaker [_Finding bottle; examining it_.] See here, Cousin Fanny, didn't you have one of these about an hour ago? Didn't I see you take one of them right after dinner? Cousin Fanny [_Peevishly._] I don't know. I don't remember. I want one now, anyhow. My nerves are on the jump. You have got all my nerves on the jump. I'll take one, and nap here in the chair. John Speaker [_To Mary Speaker_.] She took one about an hour ago. I don't think it's quite right to let her have another so soon. They have a powerful depressing effect on the heart. Mary Speaker Let me see which ones they are. [_John Speaker holds the bottle out towards Mary Speaker, in front of Cousin Fanny. Cousin Fanny snatches it with a sudden motion, and laughs childishly. John Speaker and Mary Speaker look at each other inquiringly over her head._] John Speaker She really shouldn't have another one now, I'm afraid, dear. It might be pretty serious. [_To Cousin Fanny_.] You _did_ take one right after dinner, didn't you, Cousin Fanny? Cousin Fanny [_Hugging bottle to her very excitedly_.] No! No! I tell you I didn't! I _will_ take one! You don't want me to get to sleep! You don't want me to get any rest! You want me to die! John Thinker I _know_ that she _did_ have one. Mary Speaker [_To John Speaker_.] What can you do, dear? John Speaker [_Taking hold of Cousin Fanny's hands, and trying to take phial gently_.] See here, Cousin Fanny, you must be reasonable... you mustn't be stubborn about this. You can't have another tablet now. It's dangerous. It might even kill you! John Thinker It _would_ kill her as certainly as she sits there. John Speaker Come, come, Cousin Fanny... it might be dangerous. Mary Speaker John, don't struggle with her! Don't you know if you struggle with her it is likely to prove fatal? The doctor says the _least_ strain will prove fatal. Cousin Fanny [_Whimpering and struggling._] Let me have it! Let me alone! Let go of my hands! You want to kill me! You want me to die so you can get my money! John Speaker [_Releasing her._] No! No! No! Cousin Fanny... Come, be reasonable! [_He reaches for her hands again, and she grabs his hand and bites it. He draws back and says_:] Damn! [_Nurses his hand._] Mary Speaker Did she bite you? John Speaker Yes.