Summary Chapter 53

Dora is sick and bed-ridden, and it appears that she will never be well again. Indeed, the doctors no longer bother to tell Dora’s loved ones to “wait a few more days” for Dora to get well. Likewise Dora’s pet dog Jip, which is very old, shows no signs of its former vitality.

Dora consoles David, telling him when she gets better they will revisit the places of their early courtship.

It is evening. David sits by his wife when Dora asks David for a favor. She’d like to see Agnes. Would David be good enough to call Agnes over? Naturally, David obliges.

Agnes has arrived yesterday. She, David’s aunt, and David take turns attending to Dora. Presently, David sits by Dora. They are alone, and David can’t help but to have the most depressing of thoughts, for the doctors have informed Dora’s loved ones that it will be any day now when Dora will no longer be. Dora speaks to David. Her theme is her inadequacy to have ever presumed to be David’s wife. She wonders if they would’ve been better off if they had loved as boy and girl and left it at that. Presently, Dora asks too see Agnes and David obliges.

While Dora has a word with Agnes, David sits by the fire downstairs. David reflects on his life with Dora. When Jip whines, David denies its wish to be taken upstairs to see Dora. Presently, Jip lies by David’s feet never to rise again. Jip is dead! David calls out to Agnes. Agnes appears. Alas, Dora too is dead.