True, Jessie had taken her in this time without saying one word of the past unpleasantness, treating her as though that quarrel had never been.
But Nadine was different. She was one of the kind that "never forgets, never forgives" while life lasts.
When the household was wrapped in deep sleep that night, Nadine stole out upon her terrible mission.
Several careful druggists refused to fill her order; but this did not daunt her. She knew that among the lot she would soon come across a catch-penny, and in this supposition she was quite right.
She soon found a place, and secured the deadly drug which she called for, and she stole into the house again without any one being the wiser for her midnight trip.
The light was burning low in the sick-room as she entered it, and Mrs. Brown sat half dozing in her chair by the bedside.
She started up as Nadine crossed the threshold.
"You needn't mind staying any longer," she remarked, brusquely; "I will take charge of the patient now."
"No," said the other, quietly but firmly. "It is between twelve and one that the most important medicine must be administered."
"Don't you suppose I am capable of giving it?" retorted Nadine angrily enough. "You don't seem to realize what is the business of a paid nurse!"