She would be on her guard after this....

Besides, the forgetfulness had been so momentary, the imprudence so very slight ...
and it had helped her, too--it was already making her sleepy ...

and she had needed something to quiet her--needed sleep....
After a long while she turned languidly and picked up the little crystal flask from the dresser--an antique bit of glass which Rosalie had given her.
Dawn whitened the edges of the sky; the birds were becoming very noisy.
She lifted the curiously cut relic; an imprisoned fluid glimmered with pale-violet light--some scented French distillation which Rosalie affected because nobody else had ever heard of it--an aromatic, fiery essence, faintly perfumed.
For a moment the girl gazed at it curiously.

Then, on deliberate impulse, she filled another glass.
"One thing is certain," she said to herself; "if I am capable of controlling myself at all, I must begin now.

If I should touch this it would be excess....