Summary

At the start of “Lily and the River,” Lily awoke in her flooded cottage. After prying the door open, she saw the stars reflected by the flood. Her fears of “murderous waves” were dissolved by the beauty (434). Lily spotting fish in the water and noticed something “pinkly fleshy” floating toward her, jumping into the water to grasp it (435). Armstrong relayed Robin’s misfortune to Margot and Rita at the Swan in “Jonathan Tells a Story.” They told him the girl was missing from the Vaughans’ care, and joined the search. Rita cried with Helena because of her attachment to the girl. Helena insisted the girl’s loss was harder for Rita because she had another child and insisted Rita hold her son.

The flood reached the Swan as the Collodion returned with Daunt and Vaughan. Suddenly, Lily entered...