Hearts and hands

Hearts and hands

0. Henry

Context Questions

 The coach of the eastbound train, B. M Express. The only vacant seat left was a "reversed one facing the attractive young woman." This tells us that the coach was crowded.

(ii) Miss Fairchild. She is described as an elegantly dressed, pretty young woman who had all the luxuries and who loved travelling.

(iii) Mr. Easton and the marshal because they were handcuffed together.

(iv) At first, she saw them indifferently with a "distant, swift disinterest". As soon as she recognised Mr. Easton, she smiled at them and started conversing.

(v) The young woman appears to be: 0 flirtations as soon as she recognised Easton there appeared a glow on her face and she spoke in a sweet voice 0 arrogant she spoke as if she "accustomed to speak and be heard". They were old acquaintances.

II. (i) Mr. Easton. His right hand was engaged as it was handcuffed to the left hand of the marshal.

(ii) As soon as the lady saw Mr. Easton being handcuffed, her look changed to bewildered horror. She was no longer glad; "the glow faded from her cheeks" and "her lips parted in a vague, relaxing distress".

(iii) The glum-faced man spoke as if Mr. Easton was the marshal. The glum-faced man was a convict being taken to Leavenworth prison for counterfeiting.

(iv) In reality, the glum-faced man was the marshal who was taking the convict Mr. Easton to the prison. The marshal, to save Mr. Easton from embarrassment in front of Miss Fairchild, presented himself as the convict.

(v) Refer to The Title, Page 86 and Sting in the Tail, under Critical Appreciation, Page 93.

 

She called Easton, a marshal because she was told so by the real marshal. Easton, in reality, was a convict being taken to a prison on changes of counterfeiting. When Miss Fairchild first saw Easton she got a red glow in her cheeks that vanished when she saw the handcuffs. The returning colour is the red glow that returned on her face when she was told that Easton was a marshal.

(ii) Refer to Verbal Irony under Style, Page 91. It can be inferred that Easton saw an opening in counterferting operations in the West.

(iii) Easton is hinting at the close association of Miss Fairchild with the ambassador at Washington.

(iv) She was not likely to see Easton in Washington soon, because he was to be confined in Leavenworth prison. Miss Fairchild, assumed that he would be extremely busy in his new job as the marshal.

(v) (a) Money has the ability to make one feel respected and dignified. Money can make one fly and soar high.

(b) To compete with the crowd or to feel one with the high class society in Washington.

IV. (i) The girl was fascinated with the handcuffs. Easton was handcuffed to the marshal, because he was being taken to the Leavenworth prison for counterfeiting.

(ii) Miss Fairchild glaring at the handcuffs The glum faced man asked her not to worry as it was Mr. Easton business as a marshal to handcuff the convict (the glum-faced man) to keep him from getting away.

(iii) The word 'Hearts' in the title is indicative a relationship something more than friendship between Miss Fairchild and Mr. Easton When she saw Mr. Easton, there appeared a lovely smile or her face and her cheeks turned pink. She even told him that she loved the West, suggesting that she would settle down with him in the West.

(iv) Mr. Easton would be imprisoned in Leavenworth prison on the charges of counterfeiting. "My butterfly days are over significance that Easton's good and adventures days of making money by deceiving people are over.

(v) Refer to Appearances can be Deceptive, under Themes, Page 90.

V. (i) The glumfaced man interrupted the conversation between Easton and Miss Fairchild and requested' Easton that he should be taken to the smoker room.

(ii) The glum-faced man said he was in need of a drink and a smoke. The real reason was to prevent Mr. Easton from giving away the truth.

(iii) Yes, the story ends with a surprise. Refer' to Sting in the Tail, under Critical Appreciation, Page 93.

(iv) Refer to The Title, Page 86.

(v) Generally, an officer's left hand is handcuffed to the right hand of the convict. The information is necessary to end the story as it reveals that in reality Easton was the convict and the glum-faced man was the marshal. The eavesdroppers give this information to the reader ending the story surprisingly with a "Sting in the Tail".