# II: An Appeal to Heaven explained — Hand and Ring

> Chapter companion for Hand and Ring by Anna Katharine Green.

## What happens

As the widow Clemmens lies dying, her words of vengeance cast a pall over the house. Miss Imogene Dare, who has arrived at the scene, claims a ring found at the crime scene as her own, baffling the young detective Mr. Byrd. The dying woman's final utterances, 'Hand! ring!' and her curse, deepen the mystery and create a sense of dread among the gathered officials.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fate and Coincidence

The widow's dying curse and the coincidental arrival of Miss Dare, who claims the ring, suggest a fateful intertwining of events.

### Secrets and the Past

The widow's final words, 'Hand! ring!', hint at a hidden truth and a connection to the past that the characters are only beginning to uncover.

### Deception and Truth

Miss Dare's claim to the ring, which Mr. Byrd believes is a clue, introduces an element of deception and questions the truth of her story.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Byrd

The young detective is baffled when Miss Dare claims the ring he found, feeling he has lost his first clue.

### Imogene Dare

Arrives at the scene, claims the diamond ring as her own, and is profoundly shaken by the widow's dying curse.

### Mr. Orcutt

The lawyer is present, offers to escort Miss Dare home, and shows a look of perplexity and dismay after the widow's words.

### Mr. Ferris

The District Attorney is present, discussing the widow's life with Mr. Orcutt and reacting to her dying words.

### Mrs. Clemmens

Lies dying from her injuries, her final words and curse creating a powerful and ominous atmosphere.

## Key lines

> May the vengeance of Heaven light upon the head of him who has brought me to this pass... May the fate that has come upon me be visited upon him, measure for measure, blow for blow, death for death.

The dying widow calls for divine retribution against her attacker, wishing the same fate upon them.

_This curse is a central moment, creating a sense of impending doom and mystery._

> It is a clue that is lost. I have made a mess of my first unassisted efforts at real detective work.

Mr. Byrd feels he has failed by losing the ring as a piece of evidence.

_This reveals Mr. Byrd's inexperience and his internal conflict after Miss Dare claims the ring._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hand_and_ring_se/chapters/ii-an-appeal-to-heaven
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hand_and_ring_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hand_and_ring_se/chapters