How did the war affect the fortunes of Mrs S’s family including the narrator?
As it generally happens, wars always bring death and destruction. This is exactly what happened in Holland too. The war affected the fortunes of many people. It led to disruption of normal life. Mrs S and her family had to leave their town to go to a safer place. The mother died. When war ended, only the daughter returned home alive to tell her tragic tale.
The narrator takes us back to the first half of the war. She was at home for a few days. She noticed that various things were missing from the rooms. Her mother had told her about a lady named Mrs Dorling. Her mother had handed over all her valuables and ‘nice things’ to Mrs Dorling. The woman assured her that they would be in safe hands during the war. There was no written agreement. Mrs S didn’t seem to doubt Mrs Dorling’s intention. But the narrator was not convinced. Mrs Dorling went away with all the silver cutlery, antique plates, crockery and big vases. Everything went to No. 46, Marconi Street.
The war ended. Gradually things became normal. But the narrator didn’t have her mother. She was left alone to face the new realities oflife. She went to 46, Marconi Street twice in search of her mothers belongings. They aroused a feeling of nostalgia in her. Mrs Dorling showed no intention of giving them back to the narrator. But now they were useless. Their true owner was dead. Hence, they had to be forgotten. Life had to be started afresh
