en I began to count the drops: one, two,
three, four--and then the thought came into my mind: 'Scarcely any more
hope.' My hand trembled; a mist seemed to gather before my eyes. The
drops fell, faster; I counted on: thirteen, fourteen, fifteen; a few
drops more had fallen unawares into the spoon; then followed one more,
and again one more--twenty-five, twenty-six. I pushed the vial away
from me. 'Where are the drops? Give them to me!' she cried with
sinking voice. She snatched the spoon from my hand, and I turned away
my head. My good angel had forsaken me."

Mauer groaned and hid his face in his hands. Carmen held her breath;
she dared not speak, or raise her eyes to look at her father; she could
not even think.

"The patient," resumed Mauer, after a short pause, "became quieter; her
breathing was scarcely audible. Did she sleep? From my heart I
prayed: 'God of mercy, let her sleep and not die--not now!' But I did
not dare to look at or listen to her. I threw myself on a couch, and,
in the horror that filled my soul, buried my head in the cushions.
Time passed on; the clock ticked as usual, I know not whether for
minutes or hours. Then I heard the ring of horse's hoofs before the
door. I got up to let the visitor in, for the servants were in bed.
It was only three o'clock in the morning. To my surprise, in walked
Brother Jonathan. 'How is she?' he inquired hastily; and I answered
softly, 'She sleeps.'

"He approached the side of the bed, and drawing the lamp near, so as to
observe her closely, said: 'Yes, never to wake again. I was sure
nothing could save her!'

"I did not utter a word; my tongue seemed glued to my mouth, and
refused to move. Had she died because nothing could save her, or
because I had dropped double the number of drops? The fatal vial still
stood on the table by the bed where I had placed it. I feared to touch
it again; but Jonathan took it up, and, looking at it, said casually:
'Did you give her from it twice? I see there are more than fifteen
drops gone.' I nodded my head. 'After two hours?' he asked again, and
put the vial in his pocket. I again nodded affirmatively. He examined
the dead woman again, felt her skin, and raised her eyelids.
'Strange,' he said. 'You gave her the first dose about twelve o'clock,
and the second at two; it is now only three o'clock, and this corpse
has been cold for several hours. Your wife must have died at least two
hours ago; how is th