Summary

Sue finds the 60-year-old Mr. Behrman, presumably a German-speaking immigrant, reeking of gin in his poorly lit room dominated by an easel on which a blank canvas rests, for 25 years awaiting Behrman's inspiration. When Sue tells him of Johnsy's dark obsession with the dying leaves, Behrman first reacts angrily at Sue's not being able to prevent Johnsy's foolishness, then lamenting the cruelty of a world where one so sweet as Johnsy can suffer as she does. The two go upstairs, where Sue pulls the bedroom window shade down on the sleeping Johnsy before bringing Behrman into the other room and letting him look through the window and see for himself the nearly-bare ivy vine. A cold rain mixed with snow is falling, as Sue and Mr. Behrman exchange a long, scared, silent look before commencing on Sue's sketch.

The next morning, after only...