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Collins, Wilkie, 1824-1889

"The New Magdalen"

"
"My dear aunt, when I was the innocent means of bringing her here
I had no idea that such a person as Miss Roseberry was in
existence. Nobody laments what has happened more sincerely than I
do. Have you had medical advice?"
"I took her to the sea-side a week since by medical advice."
"Has the change of air don e her no good?"
"None whatever. If anything, the change of air has made her
worse. Sometimes she sits for hours together, as pale as death,
without looking at anything, and without uttering a word.
Sometimes she brightens up, and seems as if she was eager to say
something; and then Heaven only knows why, checks herself
suddenly as if she was afraid to speak. I could support that. But
what cuts me to the heart, Julian, is, that she does not appear
to trust me and to love me as she did. She seems to be doubtful
of me; she seems to be frightened of me. If I did not know that
it was simply impossible that such a thing could be, I should
really think she suspected me of believing what that wretch said
of her. In one word (and between ourselves), I begin to fear she
will never get over the fright which caused that fainting-fit.


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