Charlotte Ashby

Charlotte Ashby, the second wife of widower Kenneth Ashby, is dismayed to discover a series of mysterious letters to her husband. At first she suspects that Kenneth is corresponding with a former lover. As the story unfolds, however, Charlotte comes to believe that the letters are from the ghost of Kenneth's first wife, Elsie. Her increasing certainty about the ghostly source of the letters illustrates the story's theme of alienation as she discovers an unknown side of her husband's character.

Elsie Ashby

Elsie Ashby was the first wife of Kenneth Ashby and now her ghost haunts the house of her former husband and his new wife, Charlotte. It is Elsie who sends the mysteriously delivered letters that causes Kenneth and Charlotte such dismay. A controlling and rigid woman in life, Elsie seeks to remain in control of Kenneth even from beyond the grave. Her message to Kenneth...