I bethought me
of the jewels that my father's sailor friend was to give him, and
searched the cottage for them. As I could not find them, I felt sure
that it was on his return from his meeting with his sailor friend,
when the jewels were upon him, that he fell with the landslip.'
Again Winnie paused as if awaiting some question, or at least some
remark from me.
'Did you make no inquiries about me?' I said.
'Oh yes,' said she; 'my grief at the loss of my father was very much
increased by my not being able to see you. Mrs. Shales told me that
you were ill--very ill. And altogether, you may imagine my misery.
Day after day I got worse and worse news of you. 'And day after day
it became more and more certain, that my father had perished in the
way people supposed. I used to spend most of the day on the sands,
gazing at the landslip, and searching for my father's body. Every
one tried to persuade me to give up my search, as it was hopeless,
for his body was certain to be buried deep under the new tongue of
land.'
'But you still continued your search, Winnie?' I said, remembering
every word Dr.
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