XXVIII: 6:00 a.m.—Mist Drifting Through Mist explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Appearance vs. Reality

  Mrs. Endicott presents a composed facade while concealing her manipulative actions and suicidal intent.

• Marriage and Deception

  Mrs. Endicott's marriage is built on lies, including her forgery to turn Herbert against Marge.

• Obsession and Control

  Mrs. Endicott's need to control her husband's affections leads to extreme measures, including forgery.

Characters to notice

• Lieutenant Valcour

  Intervenes to prevent Mrs. Endicott's suicide and interrogates her about her motives and actions.

• Mrs. Endicott

  Attempts suicide but is saved; reveals her forgery scheme and her conflicted emotions about love and marriage.

• Thomas Hollander

  Mentioned as recovering from his injuries; Mrs. Endicott admits to loving him as much as her husband.

• Herbert Endicott

  Deceased; Mrs. Endicott reflects on her love for him and the events leading to his death.

• Marge Myles

  Subject of Mrs. Endicott's forgery; her address was in Mrs. Endicott's directory.

• Mrs. Siddons

  Housekeeper who warned Mrs. Endicott about divine punishment on Herbert.

Key passages

• “Why did you have the address of Marge Myles in your directory, Mrs. Endicott?”

  Valcour asks why Mrs. Endicott had Marge Myles's address.

  Valcour probes Mrs. Endicott's connection to Marge.

• “I employed forgery.”

  Mrs. Endicott admits to forging a letter to implicate Marge.

  Reveals her manipulative scheme.

• “It was beginning to. Things like that work slowly; they keep breeding in the mind until they become effective.”

  Mrs. Endicott explains how her forgery was slowly influencing Herbert's feelings.

  Shows her calculated patience.

• “I love Tom Hollander, too, just as much as I loved Herbert.”

  Mrs. Endicott confesses to loving both Tom and Herbert equally.

  Highlights her complex emotional state.