The Open Window Summary

 

The Open Window Summary

In the story, Frampton Nuttell who suffers from panic, goes to a quiet and serene place for his treatment. He calls a family friend there. He meets Vera, a fifteen-year-old girl. She is a very quiet and confident girl. She tells Frampton that her aunt, Mrs. Sappleton, will be down soon. He was accompanied by a letter of introduction given to him by his sister. His sister told him that in the countryside, he would meet only a few people. If he feels unhappy, his condition may worsen.

Vera asks him if he knows many people there. He replies to her that he does not know anyone here. Four years ago, his sister who visited the place gave him letters of introduction from some people. He said that he only knew his aunt's name and address.

Vera tells him that about three years ago, her aunt's husband and two brothers went out for a shoot. He pointed to a large window opening into the lawn. He told her that they all went out that window and never returned again. The wet spongy ground swallowed them and at the same time their bodies were never recovered.

She adds that Mrs. Sapleton always keeps this window open until it darkens in the hope that she will return someday. Sometimes, Vera also feels that someday they will come with her dog from that window as they did before.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Sappleton came and apologized for being late. She said that her husband and brother had gone for shooting birds. He tells Nuttell that he has kept the window open to enter the house so that they do not tarnish the carpet with their dirty shoes.

Nuttell tried to change the subject but she kept on talking about the shooting and the lack of birds. He felt that his eyes were directed to the window and lawn and was only paying little attention to it. Suddenly he looked towards the window and cried that they were in time for tea. Frampton trembled with fear and turned to Vera to express sympathy. But she was looking into his eyes from the window of horror.

He swung in his chair and looked at the window. He saw three figures moving towards the window towards the cannons moving across the lawn. A brown dog was with them. Nuttel left in a hurry. The man came in through the window and asked Mrs. Sapleton who had moved out of the house. He said that it was Nuttell who talked about his illness. He ran as if he saw some ghosts.

However, Vera said he was afraid of dogs because once a group of dogs chased him to a cemetery. He spent one night in a newly dug tomb and the dogs that grew around it.