A young curate arrives in a rural parish and seeks to engage with the local community. He encounters an elderly woman living in a cottage near a historical ruin. Initially, she is reluctant to share her meal with him, but they strike up a conversation. The woman, who is deaf, reveals that she has lived in the area for over thirty-five years and has never visited the nearby town of Enckworth. The curate learns that she does not attend church due to her hearing impairment, which prompts him to offer assistance. Determined to help her connect with the church, the curate provides her with an ear-trumpet, but it proves ineffective. Undeterred, he devises a plan to install a sound-tube that would allow her to hear the sermon directly. When she attends church for the first time, she becomes the center of attention, but the experience is marred by an embarrassing incident involving the curate's handkerchief getting caught in the tube. Despite the awkwardness, the woman expresses her satisfaction with the sound-tube and insists on attending church regularly. The curate, overwhelmed by the situation, decides to remove the tube to avoid further discomfort. Shortly after, he learns of her sudden death, which deeply affects him. He discovers that she had been eager to hear him preach again and had left him her possessions in her will, recognizing his genuine care for her. The story explores themes of connection, compassion, and the often-overlooked lives of the elderly, highlighting the curate's journey from initial discomfort to a profound sense of loss and reflection on the value of human relationships.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1888 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor