The birth index doesn't have a Lily Crowe. If you go through the Crowe births (there aren't many) there isn't an obvious girl's name b 1887-1889 which could be Lily. Maybe her birth wasn't registered, and maybe one of her names was Eleanor ?
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1891
Maughold 1e/5
household 32
Lily Crowe visitor 3 b Douglas
with Edward Kerruish 69 and his family.
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1901
Maughold 1/4
household 22
Thomas D Shield 66 contractor's agent, with wife, 3 daughters and a 14 year old son, Frederick D Shield, all b England.
household 40, 3 pages away
Maughold Village
Mary A Kerruish unm 49 lodging house keeper
Lily Crowe cousin 13 b St Johns
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Maybe Lily and Frederick Shield became too friendly, and father, Thomas, organised the stay over on the mainland for the confinement ?
Minnie's version gives the impression that Eleanor's pregnancy was known about back home.
I think that you and Sue are probably right in feeling that the Helena Crowe b 1881 isn't your Eleanor.
Jean C