Hearts and Hands

Extract I

As they passed down the aisle of the coach…….owner was accustomed to speak and be heard.

1.    Which coach is referred to in the extract? How can you conclude that the coach was crowded?

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.

2.    Name the young woman in the coach. What is said about her just before the extract?

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

3.    Which linked couple is referred to in the extract above? In what way were they linked?

The linked couple was Mr Easton and the marshal because they were handcuffed together.

4.    Describe the reaction of the young woman on seeing the two men.

At first, she saw them indifferently with a ‘distant, swift disinterest.’ As soon as she recognized Mr Easton, she smiled at them and started conversing.

5.    What was the relationship between Mr Easton and the young woman?

They were old acquaintances.

Extract II

“It’s Miss Fairchild,” he said, with a smile……glances from his keen, shrewd eyes.

1.    Who said, “It’s Miss Fairchild”? Which hand of his was engaged? How?

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

2.    Why did the young lady’s look changed to bewildered horror? What changes were seen in her due to the horror?

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.’

3.    What did the glum-faced man say about the marshal? As per the context here where was the glum-faced man being taken? Why?

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.

4.    With reference to question 3 above explain what happened in reality. 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.

5.    Explain the significance of ‘hands’ in the story.

The story begins with two people, Mr Easton and the glum-faced man hand-cuffed together. It is the handcuffing that lends to the ‘Hands’ part of the title. In fact, it is the hands which are significant for revealing the true identities  of the two men. Miss Fairchild was misled by the unnamed man about the identity of Mr Easton as he wanted to save Mr Easton from an embarrassing situation by revealing that he was a convict and was being taken by him to the prison. It was an astute passenger in the coach, who discovered that  a marshal would not handcuff his own right hand with that of a convict, as was the case with Mr Easton and the marshal.

Extract III

“Oh!” said the girl, with a deep breath and returning colour….quite as high a position as that of ambassador, but…..

1.    Why did Miss Fairchild call Easton, a marshal? What was he in reality? She called Easton, a marshal because she was told so by the real marshal. Moreover, her own fantasies did not allow her to suspect the real marshal’s revelation about Mr Easton.

Easton, in reality, was a convict being taken to a prison on charges of counterfeiting.

2.    Explain why Easton was going to Leavenworth.

He was going to be imprisoned at Leavenworth prison for counterfeiting.

3.    Give the meaning of :

A) Money has a way of taking wings unto itself: Money has the ability to make one feel respected and dignified. Money can make one fly and soar high.

b) To keep step with our crowd:  To compete with the crowd or to feel one with the high class society in Washington.

4.  What did Easton say he was doing in the past?

Easton said he was making money but he needed more in order to fit in high society so he took up the position of a marshal in the west.

5.    What did Fairchild say about Easton’s life in Washington? Why was she not likely to see Easton in Washington soon?

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.

Extract IV

The girl’s eyes, fascinated, went back……my butterfly days are over.

1.    Why were the girl’s eyes fascinated? Who were handcuffed? Why? The girl was fascinated with the handcuffs. Easton was handcuffed to the marshal, because he was being taken to the Leavenworth prison for counterfeiting.

2.    Why did the glum-faced man say, “ Mr Easton knows his business’?

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

3.    What kind of relationship existed between Mr Easton and Miss Fairchild?

The word ‘Hearts’ in the title is indicative as relationship something more than friendship between Miss Fairchild and Mr Easton. When she saw Mr Easton, there appeared a lovely smile on 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.

4.    Why won’t Easton be in Washington in the near future? What is meant by ‘my butterfly days are over’?

Mr Easton would be imprisoned in Leavenworth prison on the charges of counterfeiting. “ My butterfly days are over’ signifies that Easton’s good  and adventurous days of making money by deceiving people are over. |

Extract V

The two men sidled down the aisle……..a prisoner to his right hand?

1.    What did the glum-faced man do to cut short the conversation between Easton and Miss Fairchild? What could be the reason for his action?

  The glum-faced man interrupted the conversation between Easton and Miss Fairchild and requested Easton that he should be taken to the smoker room.To prevent Mr Easton from revealing that he is a convict the glum-faced fellow did so.

2.    What reason did the glum-faced man give for his going for a smoke?

The glum-faced man said he was in need of a drink and a smoke. He asked Mr Easton to accompany him to the smoker car as he was ‘half dead for a pipe.’

3.    Which hand of an officer is handcuffed to the hand of the convict? Why is this information necessary to end the story?

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 Mr Easton was the convict, and the glum-faced man was the marshal.

4.    Do you like the way the story ends? Give reason to justify your opinion.

Yes, the story ends with a surprise. Give your own answer.

5.    What role do the ‘hearts’ and ‘hands’ play in the plot of the story?

For ‘hands’ refer extract II, question 5

It is the ‘hearts’ part of the title that explains the theme. It is because of having a compassionate heart that the marshal told a lie to Miss Fairchild. He did this to save Mr Easton from the humiliation of being identified as a convict in front of an old friend. He told Miss Fairchild that Mr Easton was the marshal and he was the convict, who was being taken to the prison by Mr Easton. The glum-faced man had golden heart. The effect of the lie was immediate in the response of Miss Fairchild. She showed relief that Mr Easton was not convicted. She was shocked and horrified before the marshal told the lie to her.