Her father had never done such a thing before, and the message astonished her not a little.
Then, remembering that he had shown some anxiety regarding her appearance that evening, she fancied she began to understand.

Yet it was strange, it was utterly unlike him, to desire her to take an opiate.

She looked at the glass with hesitation.
"Give him my love, Purdu," she said finally to the waiting orderly.
"Tell him I will take it if I cannot sleep without." The man bowed himself again and withdrew.

To her disgust, however, Nick remained.

He was looking at her oddly.
"Miss Roscoe," he said abruptly, "I beg you, don't drink that stuff.