Letter to Jack

Nora writes a letter to Jack Lacey early in the novel. Nora has not seen Jack in years. The letter is intended to set a price on Nora’s vacation cottage at Cush so that Nora can sell it. Jack accepts the offer, and Nora is able to use the money gained from the transaction in order to give her family some financial breathing room.

Thomas Merton books

Thomas Merton books are among the volumes given to Nora by Aunt Josie early in the novel. Thomas Merton was an important and very influential American Catholic writer in the Twentieth Century. Aunt Josie’s giving to Nora of Thomas Merton books demonstrates their shared Catholic heritage and faith, and demonstrates that Aunt Josie is seeking to give Nora some comfort after Maurice’s death through works of faith.

Old photographs

Old photographs are discovered by...