Their daughters also hold a significant role in the story because they symbolize the women when they

had taken their trip to Rome years ago. Their youthfulness and beauty reminds both women of the past and what they both are hiding. The young girls are out in Rome, known for its intimacy. Alida mentions the young girls and uses them as reference to her and Grace's experience in Rome (Selina 100). She specifically mentions their daughter's plans to fly back at moonlight from Tarquinia to remind them both of their unforgettable visit to Rome (Selina 99). The young girls wanted to adventure Rome in the moonlight just as Alida and Grace did when they were in their youth. This opens the doorway to memories of what the reader will find out at the end of the story, and gives a meaningful understanding of the gapped past. The ending surprises are unexpected because the reader has no knowledge of either of the women's past, and they appear to be merely older middle class women with a placid atmosphere surrounding them and nothing better to do than knit. They both possessed strong feelings for the same man and this caused the misfortune of events that ends in each woman getting hurt and being betrayed. Grace is emotionally shocked when Alida declares she wrote the letter instead of Delphin. The letter was a sign of passion towards her from Delphin and the secret that they were able to share, but with this knowledge Grace realizes she no longer had any part of him at all. To her, this wrecks the recollection of the only letter I ever had from him (Bowlby 38). Knowing that Grace had feelings for her husband, Alida wants to shatter her because she is envious of their connection (Bowlby 37-38). She sent the fake letter that was meant to lead to a long, lonely wait at the entrance of the Colosseum, but in fact her action had had the effect of bringing about exactly what she was seeking to avoid, a rendezvous between the two potential lovers (Bowlby 39). Little does Alida know about Grace writing back to the letter and ending up meeting with Delphin that night in Rome. While they were together the reader can conclude that they had a sexual romance because Grace later announces her daughter Barbara is a result of that night. By bringing up her daughter, Alida is informed of what she does not know about that scandalous night she ironically set up. Mrs. Slade envies Mrs. Ansley her bright, dynamic daughter Barbara and cannot understand how two such exemplary characters as Grace and Horace Ansley could have produced her; she, meanwhile, is disappointed in her own too perfect Jenny (Bowlby 38). Alida resents Grace because not only did she have feelings for her husband but is gifted with a desirable daughter, which in fact is her husband's daughter also. When Grace states, I had Barbra, the ambitious rival's fight is over (Bowlby 38). The past is now completely open and there are no more secrets left between the two child hood friends. In this short conversation, each woman takes a blow and their prospective of the past is altered tremendously. Every emotion portrayed in the story was shown in this short segment since they felt the pang of jealousy, envy, and guilt. Alida and Grace grew up as friends but made disloyal acts because of self-interest and jealousy. The two ladies, who have been intimate since childhood, reflect how little they knew each other

(Herman 311). It all lead down to the love they both shared for the same man many years ago. Delphin is the center of the squabble for reasons of envy, lust and spite. They each carry their own share of secrets for years creating a build up of emotions. By the end, Grace and Alida are overwhelmed with the fact their evaluation of the past is mistaken and both are scarred with devastation. The story's symbolism, interpretation of words and ending twist helps portray the feelings of the characters, which benefits the reader's understanding of the scene and each character's depth of emotion.