The power she had always exerted over me was very strong in her at this moment; and not till afterwards did it cross my mind that I had never asked her how she got to the house, or whether we were as much alone in the building as I believed.
"'Shall I drink alone ?' she repeated, and I cried out 'No'; at which her hand went to her breast, as I had so long expected, and I saw the glitter of a little phial as she drew it forth.
"'Oh, Adelaide!' I began; but she heeded me no more than the dead.
"On leaving home, she had put on a long coat with pockets and this coat was still on her, and the pockets gaping.

Thrusting her other hand into one of these, she drew out a little flask covered with wicker, and set it on a stand beside her.

Then she pulled out two small glasses, and set them down also, and then she turned her back.

I could hear the drop, drop of the liquor; and, dark as the room was, it seemed to turn darker, till I put out my hands like one groping in a sudden night.

But everything cleared before me when she turned around again.