They will take for granted that They have finished you, in fact! So cheer up, it is worth a little illness to be rid of the fear of Them forever." A lightning flash of hope lit up the worn face upon the pillow.

"Oh, Doctor! Do you really think I am free ?" "Sure of it." Aunt Amy sank back with a long sigh; her lined face grew suddenly peaceful.

Esther, who had observed the little scene with wonder, said nothing, but taking the tablets, kissed her Aunt, and led the way out in silence.
"Well ?" As they stood together in the hall she could see the amused twinkle in the doctor's eye.
"I don't like it! You lied to her!" "So I did," cheerfully.
"These tablets," holding up the glass vial, "what are they ?" "Tonic." "And the medicine which you are going to send later ?" "More tonic." "But she thinks--you gave her to understand that they are the antidote for the poison which you know does not exist." "No.

They are the antidote for a poison which does exist--medicine for a mind diseased." "It's--it's like taking advantage of a child." "So it is, exactly.

I suppose you have never taken advantage of a child, for the child's good ?" "Certainly not." "Never told one, gave one to understand, so to speak, that a kiss will cure a bumped head ?" "That's different!" "Never told your school class during a thunderstorm that lightning never hurts good children ?" "That's very different." "And yet all the time you know that lightning falls upon the just and unjust equally." Esther was silent.