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Laura begins her walk down the hill toward the Scott family’s home. It seems odd to her that she does not feel the appropriate sadness one should have when visiting the deceased and their survivors. Instead, she thinks back to the family’s successful party. She is filled with the warmth of its memory and has no room for the cold feeling of journeying toward the dead man’s home. When Laura crosses the broad road, she begins to see the signs of poverty. The lane on which Mr. Scott had lived is filled with smoke and darkness. Laura wishes she had taken her hat off and worn an overcoat to cover up her showy party clothes, which stand out in the gloom. She again questions the appropriateness of her visit and is tempted to turn back.
She arrives at the Scott house, where a dark crowd of people has gathered to pay their respects. They stop talking and part to allow her passage into the house. She knocks on the door and considers leaving the basket without waiting for an answer. Em Scott’s sister answers the door and guides Laura to the small, dark kitchen, where the widow sits by the fire. Em turns to Laura, her face a display of deep grief. She seems confused about why this wealthy stranger is in their house.
Em Scott’s sister excuses the widow and guides Laura to the bedroom, where the deceased’s corpse lies. She encourages Laura to look at Mr. Scott and not be afraid. Laura is surprised to see that the young man, with his eyes closed, appears to be peacefully sleeping. She envies his escape from the world’s troubles. His face seems to say, “All is well.”
Laura feels obliged to say something to the deceased, so she remarks, “Forgive my hat.” As she leaves the bedroom, Laura lets out a solitary loud sob. Not waiting for Em’s sister to guide her, she leaves the Scott home, passing the gathered mourners, and returns back up the hill.
She meets Laurie, who has been concernedly looking for her. She hugs him, crying. In a comforting voice, Laurie asks Laura if her experience has been awful. Sobbing more freely now, Laura says no, it was “marvelous.” She is unable to adequately express her overwhelming emotions from the experience. She merely says, “Isn’t life —” In sympathy and understanding, Laurie responds with an ambiguous, “Isn’t it, darling?”
