Summary

In “A Woman’s Hand,” Evelyn and Harold Fazackerley take a walk along Bandana Beach. They pass a row of glass homes where the inhabitants are sitting in the windows. Evelyn disapproves of the houses but Harold does not not “care enough” to have an opinion (4). He recently retired and has been struggling to fill his time meaningfully. Evelyn has strict standards and is incapable of sitting still (5). As they walk, the couple discusses their former employers’ Win and Dudley Burd, who are now running “a service station” (6). The Burds are English and were always well off. They hosted elaborate parties and often invited the Fazackerleys.

The Fazackerleys run into Harold’s old school friend, Clem Dowson, on the beach. He invites them into his small home, which resembles a shack to Evelyn. She tries hiding her opinions as he shows them...