The Girl in His Shadow

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains descriptions of rape, attempted suicide, and abortion.

Croft vows that he will never forgive Harry for betraying them, and Mrs. Phipps, who was at the meeting, is horrified that Nora told everyone the truth. Nora considers Harry’s betrayal and suggests that Vickery may have blackmailed him. When Harry arrives, Daniel turns him away.

Nora believes that Harry deserves a chance to explain, so she goes to their usual spot in the park to look for him. He is waiting for her and confesses that Vickery offered him money to tell the truth. Harry turned it down several times, but Vickery discovered that Harry was at the hospital, attending to a shipmate’s daughter, a girl of 17 who was raped and impregnated and tried to take her own life as a result. The man begged for Harry’s help, and Harry “relieved her of the baby” (300), justifying his decision with the knowledge that she would attempt suicide again if he did not. Vickery examined the girl and suspected what Harry had done. This happened on the same night as Prescott’s surgery, so Vickery knew that Harry could not have assisted Daniel.