?"

"Nobody."

The veins about the temples began throbbing heavily. Brenton could see
the skin about them tighten to the pulse-beat. Between them, the keen
eyes gleamed like balls of polished metal surcharged with electricity.

"Think again, nurse," Doctor Keltridge said slowly. "And remember that
your professional reputation is at stake. That bottle has been emptied
and refilled with water. Where has that bottle been?"

"On the mantel."

"Who has been in the room?"

"Mr. Brenton, myself, and the baby."

"And Mrs. Brenton?" The doctor's eyes were fixed upon the nurse, as he
put the question. He did not see the sudden whitening of Brenton's
face; but his trained ear did make out the swift intake of Brenton's
breath.

"She came and went."

"When you were here?"

"Yes."

"And you were here, you or Mr. Brenton, all night long?"

"Yes."

"And all the morning?"

"Except when I was telephoning to you."

"Hm!" This time, as casually as he was able, the doctor glanced at
Brenton, and his glance caught Brenton stuffing a wadded handkerchief
into his pocket. Above his forehead, his hair was damp and sticky. "You
left the room, while you called me up? And, when you went away, the
bottle was on the mantel? You are sure?"

"I am sure."

"Where was it, when you came back?"

"In the same place. I know that, for I went straight to it. You had
just told me it would keep the child alive, until you came." Under the
rapid fire of questions, the nurse's voice began to show defiance.

The doctor recognized the defiance, and lifted up his head.

"Steady, nurse," he cautioned her. "Don't get on your nerves now; there
is too much at stake. Where were the others, while you were
telephoning?"

"Mr. Brenton had gone downstairs to get his breakfast. Mrs. Brenton was
dressing in her room."

"All the time?"

"I--I supposed so." The nurse turned to Brenton sharply. "You met her,
Mr. Brenton, when she started down the stairs?" she asked him. "I am
sure I heard you speaking to her, sure that I heard her answer."

Brenton wet his lips; then he passed his hand across his brow, palm
outward. Both nurse and doctor could see the heavy streak of moisture
gathered in the life-line.

"Forgive me, doctor," he said, after a minute. "I seem dazed by this
thing; it has been a long and anxious night, and I am more upset than I
had supposed. Mrs. Brenton? She has gone away to church; she felt that
now, if ever, she needed the help a