Page 31 (1/2)
"I had overnment lock hospital," Free said "I was locked up with three hundred prostitutes suspected of being infected with syphilis, so I could report accurately on the cruelty of the attendants, the pain of the exa herself to recall those in any detail--the feel of being held down, the invasive entleness had all hazed to thankful forgetfulness "I told everyone that there o in pain with no coony I reported that there ons of disease in two years ere still kept like prisoners"
"And yet the govern up women with syphilis The Thames rushes on, Miss Marshall"
"But the tomen I learned were free of symptoms are now free And every time Josephine Butler speaks to a crowd of men, she sketches a picture with her words of what those thousands of women endure Grown men weep to hear it, and we chip away at that wall, day by day It will come down someday" She raised her chin and looked hi by without end You see a sad collection of wo out an inconsequential a to e with the water we reardens, sprout by sprout We’re growing bluebells and clovers where once there was a desert All you see is the river, but I care about the roses"
His eyes were dark and the light was dih that she could see scarcely make hi about youBut every tiht and weary
"You’re wrong again The world started out upside down I’ives o"
He reached out But he didn’t touch her--his hand was gloved, and he held it, poised, a hair’s breadth from her cheek She could feel the warmth of hiht, Miss Marshall," he said
EDWARD WASN’T SURE what roused hih-pitched; a rustle perhaps
He came instantly awake His heart rate accelerated; he jumped soundlessly to his feet But there were no footsteps, no sounds of anyone shuffling about outside And then that noise sounded again--a soft,from Miss Marshall’s office
He went to thethat looked in on that space
The only illuh a single highHer form twitched; her hand reached up, as if to push someone away
He should have let her sleep
But he was so far beyond should when it caerous to enter her office He was in his shirtsleeves, and she… He could see her ankle poking out from under a blanket, the flash of her wrist Miss Marshall was far too undressed for his peace ofbeside her He set his hand on her shoulder
"Miss Marshall," heHe brushed her forehead A claers
"Free" He ran his hand down her cheek