Hearts and Hands Question and Answers

Hearts and Hands Question and Answers

1 Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.t As they passed down the aisle of the coach the only vacant seat offered was a reversed one facing the attractive young woman. Here the linked couple seated themselves.

i Who are they'? Why have 'they' been referred to as a "linked couple'? The term 'they' here refers to two of the characters in the story 'Hearts and Hands Mr Easton and the marshal.

They are also being referred to as a linked couple because the two of them were handcuffed together.

Which train did the linked couple board? What else does the author tell us about the train?

The marshal and Mr Easton boarded the B. & M. Express at Denver. The author tells us that a large number of passengers boarded the

train at Denver. The coach that the two men boarded was crowded and

had only one vacant seat.

iii Who was the attractive young woman? How does the author describe her? The attractive young woman was Miss Fairchild.

She has been described by the author as an elegantly dressed, pretty, young woman who was used to travelling in a luxurious and comfortable manner. Her manner of speaking conveyed that she was used to being listened to.

iv Why did the young woman look at the men with disinterest? Did her attitude change at any time during the journey?

The young woman, Miss Fairchild, considered the two men as strangers

and did not wish to indulge in conversation with them. Hence, her initial attitude towards them was that of disinterest.

However, this changed as soon as she recognized Mr Easton. He was an

acquaintance of hers and she decided to greet him.

V

How does the setting of the train coach help propel the story forward?

Sitting inside a crowded coach helped bring together old acquaintances, which otherwise might not have occurred. Had there been other vacant seats in the coach Mr Easton might have chosen to sit as far away from a pretty woman as possible. It is because Mr Easton sat opposite Miss Fairchild that the conversation between them took place and the marshal decided to save Mr Easton from embarrassment.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

"It's Miss Fairchild," he said, with a smile. "I'll ask you to excuse the other hand, it's otherwise engaged just at present." He slightly raised his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining "bracelet" to the left one of his companion. The glad look in the girl's eyes slowly changed to a bewildered horror.

i

Why did the man raise his right hand? What is being referred to as a

'bracelet' in this extract? Mis Fairchild had initiated a handshake. The man, Mr Easton, raised his

right hand to show that he could not use it to return Miss Fairchild's handshake.

The bracelet being referred to in this extract is the handcuff that was attached to the two men's wrists.

ii

jacket

Why was the girl horrified? Describe the girl's reaction in detail. Seeing the handcuffs on Mr Easton upset Miss Fairchild as she thought that her acquaintance was caught committing a crime and was thus being taken to prison. This belief led to the look in her eyes change to one of 'bewildered horror. Furthermore, the glow on her face faded away and her lips parted in distress. In short, the girl turned pale on seeing Mr Easton handcuffed.

Who was Mr. Easton's companion? Why is he described as having shrewd

eyes?

Mr Easton's companion was the real marshal. He was taking Mr Easton to Leavenworth prison.

He is described as having shrewd eyes because he quickly noticed how upset Miss Fairchild felt on seeing her handcuffed friend and how embarrassed Easton was to be seen with handcuffs. He immediately realised that the truth would make the situation more awkward.

iv

How did Mr Easton's companion save him from further embarrassment?

Mr Easton's companion stopped Mr Easton from saying anything further. He immediately swapped their roles and described himself as the convict being taken to prison after getting caught for counterfeiting. He also said how it was normal for marshals to handcuff themselves to their prisoners and that Mr Easton knew his job as a marshal

How has Q. Henry woven in 'hands' symbolically into the story? There are several obvious as well as subtle ways that 'hands" play a role in moving the story forward. The obvious reference would be the handcuffs - Mr Easton and the marshal's hands are bound together. There is also a reference to Miss Fairchild's "gray-gloved hands", which indicates that she belonged to a high class Furthermore, the marshal takes matters into his own "hands", first by making up a story and then by making an excuse to leave the coach.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

"The ambassador," said the girl, warmly, "doesn't call any more. He needn't ever have done so. You ought to know that. And so now you are one of these dashing Western heroes, and you ride and shoot and go into all kinds of dangers. That's different from the Washington life. You have been missed from the old crowd."

i Why did Miss Fairchild think that Easton was a dashing Western hero? What was he in reality? Miss Fairchild thought that Easton was a marshal. She trusted the story told to her by the real marshal and chose to believe in it as it

pleased her to think of Easton as a western hero.

In reality, however, Mr Easton was a convict who had been caught for counterfeiting and was being taken to the Leavenworth prison to serve a prison sentence.

What were Miss Fairchild's feelings towards Mr Easton? Justify your answer with examples.

Miss Fairchild seemed to be quite fond of Mr Easton. Her cheeks went pink when she first recognised Mr Easton. She also immediately believed that Mr Easton was a marshal and a hero. She further defended Easton's job as a marshal, indicating that she believed it to be as good as an ambassador's job. Finally, she also stated that the crowd had missed his presence, implying that she too was part of the crowd and had missed him.

iii What reasons did Easton give for taking up the job of a marshal?

Easton decided to play along with the real marshal's story. He claimed he took up the job because he needed more money to maintain his status in the society. He felt that money had a tendency to leave his pockets frequently, that is, he tended to spend a lot. Hence, when he saw an opening in the West, he took it up.

iv What kind of irony do we encounter by this time in the story? Give reasons. At this stage of the story we encounter a situational irony. Miss Fairchild and by extension the readers are misled by the writer through the physical descriptions given for each character. With his smart dressing and charming manners, Mr Easton makes a convincing marshal. Similarly, because the real marshal is described as glum-faced and shabby, we readily accept that he is the convict.

V

How do readers finally learn the truth of the situation?

Readers finally learn the truth through the two passengers who are introduced at the end of the story. They were sitting near Miss Fairchild and had heard most of the conversation. While one of them, like readers, believed that Mr Easton was the marshal, the other one was shrewd and observant. He pointed out how marshals never cuffed prisoners to their right hand, revealing that it was Easton who was the prisoner.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

"Will we see you again soon in Washington?" asked the girl. "Not soon, I think," said Easton. "My butterfly days are over, I fear." "I love the West," said the girl irrelevantly. Her eyes were shining softly, She looked away out the car window. She began to speak truly and simply without the gloss of style and manner..."

i How did Miss Fairchild interpret Easton's response to her question? What did Easton actually mean when he said that his "butterfly days are over"? What literary device has the writer used here?

Miss Fairchild assumed that Easton would now be busy with his work

as a marshal in the West, and hence, would not have the time to return to his old life in Washington.

What Easton meant was that he would be locked up in prison, and hence, not have the freedom tra to Washington.

The author has used verbal irony here

How long had Miss Fairchild spent in the West? Was she there alone? What reason does she give for liking the West?

Miss Fairchild had spent the summer in Denver.

She was there with her mother, who had had to leave a week earlier because Miss Fairchild's father had fallen ill.

Miss Fairchild felt that she could live happily in the West because the air there suited her. She could either be referring to the climate or the general atmosphere there.

'She began to speak truly and simply without the gloss of style and

manner... What does this phrase tell us about Miss Fairchild?

Miss Fairchild seems to be living a life where she isn't true to herself. She is poised and speaks elegantly. However, that is not her natural and self chosen way of being. She finally shows her true nature after she finds out that Mr Easton is going to live a life in the West. She admits that she does not believe that money is everything and that she truly felt happy in the West.

iv At point, Miss Fairchild says "People always misunderstand things and

remain stupid" What is the irony in this statement?

While Miss Fairchild was describing how people behaved stupidly with regards to money, she did not recognise her own naivety at believing that her friend Mr Easton was a real marshal. She was blinded by her feelings towards Easton, not unlike the people she described who were blinded by money.

Mr Easton and Miss Fairchild seem to be more than mere acquaintances. Do you agree? Justify your answer.

Yes, I agree that Mr Easton and Miss Fairchild seem to be more than just acquaintances. Though this is never clearly mentioned, there are several hints throughout the story which point to this. For instance, at the beginning Miss Fairchild's demeanour changes completely once she recognises Mr Easton. She goes pink and is eager to start a conversation with him. Later, she hints that she misses him and says it is a pity that Mr Easton is not going East. Mr Easton, too, seems eager to save face in front of Miss Fairchild and quickly plays along when the marshal lies about the situation. Thus, their interaction seems to be indicative of the word hearts' in the title

5

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

The two men sidled down the aisle into the smoker The two passengers in a seat nearby had heard most of the conversation. Said one of them: "That marshal's a good sort of chap. Some of these Western fellows are all right."

How did the marshal interrupt the conversation between Miss Fairchild and

Mr Easton? What was Mr Easton's response? The marshal, who was pretending to be the prisoner, said he needed a drink and had not smoked the whole day. He claimed he was desperate for a smoke and ask Easton to take him to the smoker.

Mr Easton explained that he could not deny the prisoner this simple luxury and bid farewell to Miss Fairchild

Why did the marshal insist on going to the smokers' room? It is possible that the marshal simply wanted to smoke. However, he was also a very shrewd man and foresaw a problem that could occur if the conversation between Miss Fairchild and Mr Easton continued He realized that if the conversation kept going, Miss Fairchild might eventually be able to pick up on the lie that had been fed her earlier in the story.

iii Who were the two passengers seated nearby? What is their role in the story?

The two passengers bear no relation to the other three characters in the story. They act as information providers for readers and help highlight the irony in the story. It is through them that readers learn the truth: Mr Easton was the prisoner, and the glum-faced man was the marshal.

iv Attempt a brief character sketch of the two passengers.

The two passengers play a crucial role in the plot twist at the end of the story. One of them is gullible like Miss Fairchild. He observes that Easton was too young to be a marshal. However, the other passenger is shrewd like the marshal. He points out that marshals never cuff prisoners to their right hand, and therefore, Easton cannot have been the marshal

Who is the 'Western fellow' being referred to in these lines? Why is he 'all right'?

The 'Western Fellow' mentioned in these lines is the marshal. According to one of the passengers, he is all right because of the kindness he shows to Mr Easton. He shows a lot of empathy even though his job does not require him to do so. He goes out of his way to help Easton by pretending to be the prisoner and presenting Easton as the marshal. He even allows Easton to take over the story and continue his conversation with Miss Fairchild in the same light. The marshal's actions show that he has a heart of gold.