1. When Mary thinks back on the October visit from the mysterious man, she thinks that it "had no mark of the portentous" (86). What does this mean she felt about the visit at the time that it happened?
(a) It was clearly unlucky.
(b) It was an obvious breach of etiquette.
(c) It did not seem as confusing at the time as it would later become.
(d) It did not seem to have any significant meaning for the future.

2. Why does Mary have a hard time seeing the details of the man's appearance on that day in October?
(a) Ned quickly moves to block her view.
(b) The sun is behind the man.
(c) The man is deliberately keeping himself in the shadows.
(d) Her eyesight is not very good.

3. Why does Mary ask the mysterious young man whether he has an appointment with Ned?
(a) She is actually not sure that she knows where Ned is at the moment.
(b) She is trying to protect Ned's writing time.
(c) Ned has specifically asked her to turn away visitors.
(d) She instinctively mistrusts the young man.

4. Why are Ned and Mary so interested in living in an isolated location?
(a) They are afraid of the crime associated with larger populations.
(b) They want peace and quiet to enjoy their new hobbies.
(c) They want to avoid questions about their money.
(d) They are very introverted.

5. Why is the information about Bob Elwell's slow death so significant to Mary?
(a) She realizes that the timing lines up with the sightings of the ghost.
(b) She is devastated about how much suffering her husband caused.
(c) She realizes that Ned lied when he told her that everything was resolved.
(d) She cannot help being glad that the man who made her husband suffer also suffered.