God tempers the wind to the
shorn lamb, and provides thick skins for the _canaille_. What will
concern her chiefly, perhaps entirely, will be the loss of her
father, and she will soon know of that, whether she finds the body on
the sands or not. This kind of person is not nearly so sensitive as
my romantic Henry supposes. However, my condition will not be
departed from. If you consent to give up this girl I will go on the
sands; I will defile my fingers; I will secure the stolen amulet at
the ebb of the tide, should the corpse become exposed. If you will
_not_ consent to give her up, there is an end of the matter, and
words are being wasted between us.'
'Give up Winifred, mother? That is not possible.'
'Then there is no more to be said. We will not waste our time in
discussing impossibilities. And I am really so depressed and unwell
that I must return to my room. I hope to hear you are better in the
morning, and I think you will be. The excitement of this night and
your anxiety about the girl have unstrung your nerves, and you have
lost that courage and endurance which are yours by birthright.
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