I have just received a fresh box of bon-bons from New
York. But I'm not sure I can induce Eliza to eat candy."
"Then let us prepare the potion in various ways. But you must be
careful, Miss Merrick, not to make a mistake and take the dose
yourself."
Louise laughed.
"I'll be careful, sir," she promised.
The two then retired to perfect their plan, and in an hour every
arrangement was complete.
Louise went to her room, donned a wrapper, and bandaged her head. Then
she summoned Martha and asked the housekeeper to send Eliza Parsons to
sit with her in the darkened room, as she was suffering from a headache.
The maid came at once, to all appearances, as happy and careless as
ever. After expressing her sympathy she asked what she could do.
"Just sit down and keep me company, dear," replied Louise. "I'm not very
bad, but I'm restless and can't sleep, and I want you to talk to me and
amuse me."
Eliza laughed.
"That is easy, as far as talking is concerned," she said. "But to amuse
you, Miss Louise, may be more difficult."
But the girls found a topic of conversation in the election, in which
Eliza was much interested, and they chatted together for an hour or so
before Louise made any move to consummate her plot.
Pages:
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217