Pollin is also sceptical of the second explanation, pointing to Imlay's letter to Mary of 3 October 1816 in which she defended her step-mother: "Mrs. Godwin would never do either of you a deliberate injury.
此外，波林还对第二个解释抱持怀疑的态度，指出，范妮在1816年10月3日寄给玛丽的信中还在为她的继母作辩护：“戈德温太太绝不会对你们中的任一个作出蓄意的伤害。