Plot Summary
The opening scene shows Mary Maloney as a loving quiet and meek woman who is eagerly awaiting her husband's return from work.
The description of the house as 'warm and clean' shows that Mary is a devoted homemaker who does her utmost to keep a home that is in tip-top condition. She takes pride in her duties as a wife and wants to do it to the best of her abilities.
The sentence 'Two tall glasses, soda water, whiskey. Fresh ice cubes in the thermos bucket' signal to the reader that she does everything her husband likes. She makes sure that his evening drink is all ready for him so that he feels most comfortable the moment he steps in.
The sentence 'Now and again she would glance at the clock,but without anxiety, merely to please herself that each minute gone by made it nearer the time he would come' shows that she is full of joy at the thought of her husband returning home. She is content to simply sit and wait for him. She does not think that waiting is a chore but instead finds that it is most pleasant.
The sentence 'The eyes, with their new placid look, seemed larger,darker than before' portrays Mary's quiet, docile nature. She seems to be a person who is very peace-loving and unaggressive. One does not need to be excessively guarded against her at all.
The sentences 'She took his coat and hung it in the closet. Then she walked over and made the drinks' and 'Stood up, and went forward to kiss him as he came in' shows how much she waits on him. Despite the fact that she is 6 months pregnant she is busying herself for him. She does not think of her own needs and instead puts all his needs above hers.
Mary can sense that something is not right with her husband from the way he is behaving. The fact that he swallows his whiskey quickly in one gulp and pours himself another thicker one shows this.
She offers to make him supper although it is Thursdays and they usually eat out.
Despite all her offers he remains uninterested in food at all. He fails to answer her and when he finally does it is to tell her that he does not want any supper from her at all. 'I don't want it.'
He finally tells her that he has something to tell her. She feels frightened.
He informs Mary that he is leaving her.
He tells her that he will provide for her financially and tells her not to make a fuss. He does not want his job to be affected.
The sentences:
'Not to believe any of it'
'She herself had imagined the whole thing'
'When she sort of woke up again' all show Mary's disbelief over her husband leaving her. She is completely unable to accept that he no longer wants her anymore. She is in denial and tries to convince herself that it is only a dream or her imagination.
'She couldn't feel her feet touching the floor' shows her total shock and disbelief over the news.
