The Girl in His Shadow

Content Warning: Both the source text and this guide contain descriptions of rape, attempted suicide, and abortion.

Dr. Horace Croft visits cholera patients in London as the virulent disease leaves the city in fear. He stops at the Beady home, but when no one answers the door, he enters and finds everyone dead except for one small girl. He carries her from the house, instructing neighbors to call someone to collect the bodies. When he gets home, his housekeeper, Mrs. Phipps, initially fears cholera but cares for the girl and quickly grows to love her. When the girl recovers enough to speak, she introduces herself as Eleanor but goes by Nora. Mrs. Phipps confronts Croft, asking what he intends to do with Nora. When he suggests that the parish might care for her, Mrs. Phipps tartly informs him that she wants to keep the girl. Mrs. Phipps cannot find the words to explain why, but Croft senses her emotion and agrees, not wanting to lose the only housekeeper who will tolerate him. He is glad that he will be able to test Nora’s immunity to cholera during future outbreaks.