The Wives of the Dead

The Wives of the Dead Summary | Detailed Summary

The story opens as a recollection of a tragedy that occurred a hundred years ago in a busy seaport. The brides of two brothers have been widowed on successive days and are surrounded by well-meaning and sympathetic townspeople seeking to console them. Their best efforts -- whispered passages of Scripture meant to comfort the bereaved - are met with tears. Finally, near sunset, they are alone. This is what they want. As close as they were, their shared grief has brought them even closer. They are certain that whatever consolation they may find will be through each other.

They cry for nearly an hour before Mary recalls the precepts of resignation and endurance which piety taught her. She also reflects on the fact that she learned of her husband's death first and thus, she should be the first to resume her usual routine. She rises, puts the table before the fire and sets out their supper. She entreats her sister to join her for the meal and a blessing. Margaret, consumed still by her sorrow, responds bitterly that there is no blessing left for her. Instantly, she regrets her blasphemous outburst and slowly allows Mary to console her.

The couples had shared their home, -- a common sitting room with bedrooms on opposite ends. The young widows retire to their rooms after heaping ashes on the dying embers in the fireplace and leaving a lighted lamp on the hearth. They leave their doors open so each can see into the other's room. While Mary drifts into a temporary forgetfulness, Margaret becomes agitated and feverish. She lies in bed, listening to the rain and watching the flickering light from the lamp playing on the sitting room furniture. She remembers the cheerful radiance of the fire shining on their happy circle in contrast to the dead glimmer of the lamp on empty chairs.

She then hears a knock. She thinks of how her heart might have leapt at the sound only yesterday when she was awaiting news of her husband. Now, she does not care and makes no move to answer the door. Then, she wonders at the reason for such a persistent visitor so late at night. She sees that Mary is still sleeping and gets up to silence the visitor before he wakes her. She takes the lantern, goes to the window and opens it to find the town's innkeeper at the door. Goodman Parker tells her he is glad she answered his knock because he has no words of comfort for Mary. He goes on to tell Margaret that a courier just stopped at his house with news from the frontier. He recounted the skirmish in which Margaret's husband had fought and said that he had not died as reported, but had survived. Margaret thinks to wake Mary with the news but changes her mind, knowing her joy will only sharpen Mary's pain. Therefore, she goes back to bed leaving her sister undisturbed.

Later in the night, Mary wakes with a start from a vivid dream. She remembers only that she woke at the most interesting part. She is dazed, but hears knocking at the front door. Now, fully awake, she remembers her grief. Fearing her sister will be awakened, she rises and goes to the window, finding it unlocked. Stephen, a sailor and former suitor, stands at the door. He tells her that he came to cheer her with news that her husband has not died at sea, but is one of four rescued when his ship sank. Mary thinks to wake Margaret with the news and goes to her room, finding the door closed, but not locked. Margaret is sleeping restlessly with a smile on her face. Mary does not want to wake her from such a happy dream. She sets down the lantern and pulls the covers up over her shoulders, but her hand trembles, a tear falls on her cheek and she suddenly wakes.