After Zeena returns earlier than anticipated from her
distant visit to the doctor in Bettsbridge, Ethan misses his opportunity to repair the
broken pickle dish. Still, he hopes to detain Jotham who drove Zeena because he can
buffer some of Zeena's ill-temper, but Jothan uncharacteristically refuses the
free dinner that Ethan offers him. After Ethan hangs up his wet garments, he calls her
name and ascends the stairs; when he asks her to come to supper, she refuses, telling
him, "I'm a great deal sicker than you think."
Zeena
inflorms Ethan that she has "complications" and the doctor has said that she needs a
hired girl; in fact, one will be over tomorrow. Angry and dismayed at this announcement,
Ethan argues that he cannot afford another servant. But, Zeena spitefully blames him
for her loss of health:
"Yes, and my folks all told me at the time you
couldn't do no less than marry me
after--"
At this remark,
Ethan shouts her name. It is as this point that the beauty of Edith Wharton's language
exhibits itself:
Through the obscurity which hid their
faces their thoughts seemed to dart at each other
like serpents shooting venom. Ethan was seized with horror
of the scene and shame at his own share in it. It was as senseless and
savage as a physical fight between two enemies in the
darkness.
....There was a moment's pause in
the struggle, as though the combatants were testing their
weapons.
The
image of serpents conjures both evil and deadliness along with the sharp and biting,
venomous words that are exchanged between wife and husband. Additionally, the image of
two combatants, or fighters, wielding savagely swords or other sharp, deadly weapons is
evident. Obviously, an argument of such import and magnitude is one that does
irreparable harm.
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