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Four years pass. Mr. Duffy’s predictable, uninspiring life has returned to normal. He still keeps his house clean and goes to the same job and writes occasionally at his desk. The only difference is that he no longer frequents the opera or concert halls in an attempt to avoid a run-in with Mrs. Sinico. One evening, during his usual dinner in town of corned beef and cabbage, Mr. Duffy reads a newspaper article that surprises him enough to halt his eating and hurry home. There, he reads the article, entitled “A Painful Case,” once more. The article recounts the death of Mrs. Sinico, who was hit by a train at a station in Dublin the previous evening. Witness accounts and the coroner’s inquest deem that the death was caused by shock or heart failure, and not injuries from the train itself. The article includes interviews with both Mr. Sinico and their daughter, Mary Sinico. In the article, Mr. Sinico explains that he and his wife had been happily married for 20 years but that Mrs. Sinico had become increasingly detached for the past two years due to her “intemperate habits.” Mary Sinico elaborates and explains in the article that her mother had developed a drinking problem which greatly concerned her daughter. The article concludes with the statement that no one is responsible for her death.
At first, the news of Mrs. Sinico’s death angers Mr. Duffy. Perhaps suspecting suicide or weakness in character, he feels disgusted by her death. He is also revolted that he had any connection to her life. He is angered that he shared his innermost thoughts and feelings with such a weak person. He feels that Mrs. Sinico has degraded him in addition to degrading herself. He thinks back on their final meeting at her estate and he congratulates himself for breaking off the relationship when he did. Disturbed and angry, Mr. Duffy leaves his home to visit a local pub where he drinks and remembers his relationship with Mrs. Sinico.
His anger begins to subside as he continues to think of her. By the time he leaves to walk home, he feels deep remorse. He is especially sad that he ended the relationship and lost the companionship that it offered. Now that Mrs. Sinico is gone, Mr. Duffy realizes how lonely her life must have been and how lonely he made both of them by terminating their relationship. He continues to think of Mrs. Sinico in a more positive light as he continues his meandering, melancholy walk home. Upon seeing a pair of lovers in the park by his house, Mr. Duffy realizes that he gave up the only love he had ever experienced in life. He feels utterly alone and unwanted by the world.
