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That very day Farmer King went away with his daughter and Pauline. They went to a small village called Rosestairs, not many miles from Easterhaze. The farmer was immensely proud and pleased at having the care of Pauline, and he was determined that if man could restore her to health, he would be that individual. Rosestairs was a very pretty little place, and quite sheltered. The Kings took lodgings in a tiny cottage, where they lived as plainly as people could. Here Pauline rested and took long walks, and, as she expressed it afterwards, found herself again. But although day by day the weight in her head grew less, the haunting words still clung to her: "Wash and be clean. " One night they entered into her dreams, and she awoke quite early with the words hovering on her lips: "Wash, Pauline; wash and be clean. " Nancy was sleeping peacefully by her side. Pauline raised her head. She felt well -- absolutely well -- but for those haunting words. She stole out of bed and went and stood by the window.
The sea was only a few yards off, and the waves were coming in fresh and lovely and sparkling. "Come, wash," they seemed to say, and each soft thud of a wave on the shore seemed to repeat the words.