Summary

The coffin is opened. Harvey’s father, Martin Merrick, enters and comforts his wife. Marin timidly says, “There, there, Annie, dear, don’t take on so” (133). He holds and comforts Annie but does not look at the coffin. Annie soon rushes from the room, and her daughter follows her. The servant woman looks into the open coffin and the leaves the room. At this point, the only people in the room with the coffin are Henry, Jim Laird, and Martin. Martin looks at the face of his deceased son. Harvey’s face looks defiant rather than peaceful. Martin father speaks with Jim Laird to confirm that the other men will be returning to sit with him and the coffin. Martin says that Harvey was a good, kind boy, but that he and the other family members never fully understood Harvey. Annie cries from the...