But the look of astonishment that he saw on her face was as great as his own bore. Nannie Rogers' look of astonishment quickly gave way to one of the most intense hatred; ay, a very demon of rage seemed to have taken possession of her.
"I wonder that you brought her here," said the doctor.
But Nannie Rogers was speechless. She was gazing like one turned to stone upon the face of the girl whom she believed to be her rival.
"I have a double reason for hating her now," she said, under her breath, clinching her hands so tightly that her nails cut deep into her palms. But she did not even feel the pain.
"I say, I wonder that you brought her here," repeated the doctor.
"I knew of no better place," she replied, turning her eyes uneasily away from him. "You must not refuse to receive her."
"Who is she?" he asked.
"I refuse to answer your question," she replied, grimly. "You know only this about her: She is a confirmed opium-eater. One who is very much interested in her brought her here to be treated by you. She is to be kept here, under strict watch, to prevent her getting away. If she writes any letters they are to be forwarded to me."
And thus it happened that when Ida May opened her troubled eyes, after the doctor and an attendant had worked over her for upward of an hour, she found herself in a strange room, with strange faces bending over her. She looked blankly up at them.
"The waves are very high," she moaned. "Come back on the beach, girls," she murmured.