Summary

In Part II, "Heart Failure," home nurse Enid recorded her patient Mrs. Quinn's symptoms in her notebook. Mrs. Quinn's "kidneys were failing," and she would soon die (31). Mrs. Quinn was married to Rupert, and no one in his family, or the town approved of her. Enid, who was gentle and kind, also struggled to like her. She and Rupert "had been in the same class" in school (33). She still felt guilty for the way she and her friends once teased him. While caring for his wife, and watching his young girls, Lois and Sylvie, Enid never mentioned the past. Neither did Rupert.

Rupert and his wife's relationship was curious to Enid. Rupert was a farmer, and often worked late. Even when he did get home early, he and Mrs. Quinn barely talked. Mrs. Quinn complained about his coldness to Enid. She made comments...