LITERATURE: The Old Forest – A Long Fourth

Just read this in this Taylor short story:

Now the sight of Son and Ann in this pretty frame only reminded her of their unnatural and strange relationship.  They were walking far apart and Ann was speaking with deliberation and gesturing as she spoke.  But apparently at the first glimpse of Harriet, Ann broke off speaking.  And Harriet perceived in an instant that there was at least a trouble of some kind in their relationship.  She recollected now that though Son had not been talking he had been shaking his head from side to side as though in exasperation.  (p. 220)

And even as I begin to wonder what is being discussed between them, what the mother sees that she describes as trouble, I realize that with Taylor’s writing, it’s very likely that I will not find out.  It is the characters and how they react to each other that matter, not necessarily cause, but rather, effect.