A. T. Quiller-Couch

“ Raw eggs! they would certainly be nasty; but raw eggs, after all, will support life. Moreover, deliverance might come, and before long. The Tossells, when they found the boat missing, would start a search, and on the Island there might be some means of signalling. How could she be forgiven, or forgive herself, if the rescuers arrived to find Arthur Miles dead and herself alive? ”

“ That's the worst of boys, they 're so unpractical."
"Well, then, we can hunt for gulls' eggs."
"That's better; if," she added on an afterthought, "gulls 'appen to lay eggs at this time of year—which I'll bet they don't."
"Look here," said the boy severely, "we haven't searched yet. What's the use of giving in before we've tried? Nobody starves on the Island, I tell you; and—and I can't bear your talking in this way. It isn't like you——"
"I can't 'elp it," owned poor Tilda with a dry sob. ”

“ She stared forlornly at the book, and a ridiculous mocking sentence stared back at her: "It is often surprising into what tasty breakfast dishes the cunning housewife will convert the least promising materials." ”

“ She was wretched because the boy had broken away and gone without her, and 'Dolph with him—'Dolph, her own dog. They were ungrateful.... Had not everything gone right so long as they had obeyed her? While now— They would find out, of course. Even Arthur Miles would begin to feel hungry after a while, and then—'Dolph might keep going for a time on rabbits, though as a circus-dog he was not clever at sport. ”

“ It don't much matter, any'ow. We got to starve 'ere an' die, an' the sooner the better."
She walked across the beach to a smooth slab of rock and seated herself sullenly, with her eyes on the distant mainland. They were misty with tears of anger, of despair. But he could not see them, for she had resolutely turned her back on him. Had she broken down—had she uttered one sob even—the boy would have run to her side. ”