Diary of a Drug Fiend

CHAPTER VI THE GLITTER ON THE SNOW I WOKE to find Lou fully dressed. She was sitting on the edge of my bed. She had taken hold of my hand, and her face was bending over mine like a pallid flower. She saw that I was awake, and her mouth descended upon mine with exquisite tenderness. Her lips were soft and firm; their kiss revived me into life. She was extraordinarily pale, and her gestures were limp and languid. I realised that I was utterly exhausted. | “I couldn’t sleep at all,” she said, ‘after what seemed a very long time in which I tried to pull myself together. My mind went running on like mad—lI’ve had a perfectly ripping time—perfectly top-hole! I simply couldn’t get up till I remembered what that man Feccles said about a hair of the dog. So I rolled out of bed and crawled across to the H. and took one little sniff, and sat on the floor till it worked. It’s great stuff when you know the ropes. It picked me up ina minute. So I had a bath, and got these things on. I’m still a bit all in, You know we did overdo it, didn’t we, Cockie ? ”’ “You bet,” I said feebly. “I’m glad I’ve got a nurse.” “ Right-o,” she said, with a queer grin. “ It’s time for your majesty’s medicine.” She went over to the bureau, and brought me a dose of heroin. The effect was surprising! I had felt as if I couldn’t move a muscle, as if all the springs of my nerves had given way. Yet, in two minutes, one small sniff restored me to complete activity. 76