Of course he had the greatest
possible horror of medicine, and his busy thoughts began to run upon how
he might avoid that detestable powder. The little fellow was sitting on
the carpet playing with his bricks. Edward turned his eyes on his
brother, and a bright thought occurred to him.
"Regy," said he, taking down the pot, "come here. Look at this jam: isn't
it nice? It's raspberry and currant."
The child left his bricks to bend over the tempting compound.
"I'll give it you every bit to eat before nurse comes back," continued
the boy, "if you'll eat this first."
Reginald cast a look upon the powder his brother exhibited. "What is it?"
he lisped; "something good?"
"Delicious. It's just come in from the sweet-stuff shop. Open your
mouth--wide."
Reginald did as he was bid: opened his mouth to its utmost width, and the
boy shot in the powder.
It happened to be a preparation of that nauseous drug familiarly known
as "Dover's powder." The child found it so, and set up a succession of
shrieks, which aroused the house. The nurse rushed in; and Lord and Lady
Hartledon, both of whom were dressing for dinner, appeared on the scene.
There stood Reginald, coughing, choking, and roaring; and there sat
the culprit, equably devouring the jam. With time and difficulty the
facts were elicited from the younger child, and the elder scorned to deny
them.
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