s, ‘“…all want to be in the van…’”(465). Then not long after, he is reported dead, “…in the list of the killed…was Gearson’s name” (465). This news has Editha spinning into her own thoughts because before he left she had declared; ‘“…nothing will happen!”’ (465). The authors’ artful way is expressed in essence when Editha lapses into her grief; along with her disappointment that it wasn’t worse or that she had not died, “ …she had the fever that she expected of herself, but she did not die in it…and it did not last long” (465). When she remembers that she had promised to go see his mother she sees this as a glorified position; “…it buoyed her up instead of burdening her—she rapidly recovered” (466). Editha wanted to be overly dramatic when she goes to see George’s mother, “…if she had done what was expected of herself, would have gone down on her knees at the feet of the seated figure…” However, to her despair Mrs. Gearson was not pleased to see her, ‘“ What did you come for?’ Mrs. Gearson asked” (466). Mrs. Gearson sees Editha for the immature child that she is, “‘You didn’t expect that, (he would die) I suppose, when you sent him”’ (466). The author, through Mrs. Gearson, lets fly his opinions about the war. This is depicted when she tells off Editha, “‘…you didn’t expect him to get killed…You just expected him to kill someone else…You thought it would be all right for my George, your George, to kill…I thank my god he didn’t live to do it…and that he ain’t livin’ with their blood on his hands!’” She gets very upset that Editha is posing as a grieving widow, ‘“What you got that black on for?’ S...
