Mrs. Louise Mallard had heart trouble, so she had to be told as gently as possible that her husband had died. Her sister, Josephine, broke the difficult news, as her husband's friend, Richards, sat nearby. Richards was the one who first learned about Brently Mallard's death. He had been in a newspaper office when news of the disaster was received. Brently's name was at the top of the list of those killed. Richards had quickly gone to the Mallards' house because he was afraid that someone else might tell Mrs. Mallard about the death in a way that would shock her weak heart. (read more)