In the novel The Hollow, Beryl Collins is the secretary of John Christow. A loyal employee, when questioned by Inspector Grange about John Christow, she defended his reputation. He was professional and did not get involved with his patients. On his relationship with his wife, she felt that it was very good. His wife was devoted to him, in her opinion perhaps too much and too slavishly so. She did not stand up for herself enough. On Miss Collins herself, Inspector Grange thought of her as "a plain piece of goods" and that there was unlikely to be anything between her and the doctor. Elsie Patterson, the sister of Gerda Christow, had the same opinion.
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