Rosamund, taken hold of by an emotion stronger than her own--hurried along in a new movement which gave all things some new, awful, undefined aspect--could find no words, but involuntarily she put her lips to Dorothea's forehead which was very near her, and then for a minute the two women clasped each other as if they had been in a shipwreck.
In this passage from "Middlemarch," Rosamund experiences an overwhelming emotion that propels her into a new and intense reality. This feeling transforms her perception of everything around her, making it seem ominous and undefined. Caught in this powerful moment, she is at a loss for words, yet she instinctively reaches out to Dorothea, displaying a deep connection between them.
The act of Rosamund placing her lips on Dorothea's forehead signifies an emotional bond forged in the face of despair, mirroring the instinctive response of individuals who have just survived a traumatic experience. Their embrace, akin to survivors of a shipwreck, encapsulates the fragility of human relationships and the solace found in shared vulnerability during difficult times.