Describe the two visits of the narrator to Mrs Dorling’s house, No. 46, Marconi Street.

After the war, the narrator came back alone to her town. Her mother, Mrs S, was dead. Before dying, she had told her about Mrs Dorling and her address. Mrs S had also told her how she had left all her belongings in the ‘safe’ hands of Mrs Dorling. The narrator decided to go to Mrs Dorling’s house. She rang the bell and a woman appeared. The woman refused to recognise her. The narrator told her that she was Mrs S’s daughter. The woman stood staring at her. The narrator realised that perhaps she had rung the wrong bell. But soon her doubt was dispelled. The woman was wearing her mother’s green knitted cardigan. No mistake was made. She was at the right address. And the woman was Mrs Dorling. Mrs Dorling regretted that she could do nothing for her. She asked the narrator to come at some other time.

During the next visit Mrs Dorling was not at home. Her fifteen-year old daughter was alone in the house. Now the narrator was in the midst of all those ‘nice things’ that, once belonged to her mother. All the silver cutlery, antique plates, and large vases were there. She was pained to note that they were ‘tastelessly’ arranged and shabbily used. No doubt, those articles aroused nostalgic feelings in her. But their true owner was no more in the world. The narrator resolved to forget them. She also resolved to forget No. 46, Marconi Street. It was the address where all those ‘nice things’ were lying uncared and neglected.