Betrayed by Edith Nesbit (1910)
A woman returns to her home after a separation or death, and is met with an eerie silence. She finds remnants of her loved one's presence, including a fan, book, and clothing. Despite the silence, she senses that it holds secrets about the person who left. As twilight falls, the silence finally speaks, revealing a shocking truth about someone else involved in their relationship.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1910 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Drama · 278 words
First lines
I went back to our home to-day That still its robe of roses wore; My feet took the old easy way, And led me to our door.
And you are gone and never more Those little feet of yours will come To meet me at the open door, The threshold of our home.
The door unlatched did not protest: I entered, and the silence drew My steps towards the little nest That once I shared with you.
There lay your fan, your open book, Your seam half-sewn, and I could see The window whence you used to look -- Yes, once you looked -- for me.
What this Textopian page supports
Betrayed is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Drama
- Length: 278 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Betrayed by Edith Nesbit
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Betrayed?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Entreaty by Edith Nesbit
- The Offering by Edith Nesbit
- The Guardian Angel by Edith Nesbit
- The Old Dispensation by Edith Nesbit
- White Magic by Edith Nesbit
- The Fire by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, with a rhythmic structure and rhyme scheme, characteristic of poetry.
- Romance — The work explores themes of love, longing, and loss, common in the romance genre.
- Drama — The work presents a dramatic situation, with emotional intensity and conflict, typical of the drama genre.
Tags
Classic · Children's Literature · Adventure · Mystery · Family · Friendship · Loyalty · Deception · Secrets · Suspense · Thriller · Victorian Era