Art

Art is the last in the string of boyfriends that Mrs. Morse has over the course of the story. He is "short and fat and exacting and hard on her patience when he was drunk." Other than this, there is little to distinguish him from Charley, Sydney, Billy, and Fred—other men Mrs. Morse has had sexual relationships with and accepts money from but cares for little. She becomes involved with Art about the time she starts to think about suicide. Like all of the others, Art enjoys Mrs. Morse's company only when she is cheerful. She finds it restful when he is out of town on business. After her suicide attempt, Nettie, her maid, gives her a "pretty postcard" from Art that again implores her to "cheer up." This has the opposite effect of filling Mrs. Morse with crushing despair. He represents the repressive and monotonous...