MRS BIXBY AND THE COLONEL’S COAT

1-Where did Mr & Mrs Bixby live?

2-What are we told about Mr Bixby?

3-How is Mrs Bixby described?

4-What did Mrs B do once a month? Why? Describe the Colonel. Why do you think the adjective ’wealthy’’ ís
used?

5-How long did the relationship between Mrs B and the colonel last? Why do you think he put an end to it?

6. What was the parting present? Who gave it to her? Where? Why do you think the Colonel didn’t see her off
at the station? When was that?

7. What did Mrs B do with the present? Did she open it immediately?

8. Why do you think she said ‘Also, how much it cost” talking about it. And “what could it have cost? Four, five,
six thousand dollars? Possibly more.

9-Describe the present.

10- Comment on the following : “Her whole personality had suddenly changed completely. She looked
wonderful, beautiful, rich, and sexy, all at the same time. And the sense of power that it gave her.”

11-What did the letter in the envelope say? What do you think of the present and of the content of the letter?

12- Comment on the following: “

1) “She had lost one thing but gained another”

2) “Just tell them that nice generous aunt of yours gave it to you for Christmas”.

3) “The thought of parting with it was more than Mrs Bixby could bear

13- How is Cyril described?

14-.Where did Mrs B go after she arrived in NY? Why? What happened there?

15-Did Mrs Bixby want the man at the pawn brokers to put a name , address or description on the ticket? Why
not? What was the risk?

16. Why did Mrs B say: ”I’m not poor, if that-s what you mean.” Why was she worried then? Did she ask the
man to write a description of the item in the end?

17-What happened when she returned home?

20-What happened with the ticket? What was agreed? What did Mr Bixby think about the item left at the
pawn broker’s?
21.What happened on Monday morning ? And when Mrs B went to her husband’s office at 1:30?

22.What did MR Bixby give Mrs Bixby? What was her reaction?

23.Comment on this line : “I’m afraid you mustn’t expect anything else for Christmas. Fifty dollars was more
than I was going to spend”.

24. What did Mrs Bixby intend to do as she was leaving?

25. What happened when Miss Pulteney, Cyril’s secretary, came in ?

26. What do we learn at the end of the story?

27. Mrs Bixby deserved what happened to her. Discuss.

28. What did Mrs Bixby and her husband have in common?

29. What would you have done with the mink coat?

30. Mrs Bixby didn’t really love the Colonel. Discuss.

31. Money played an important part in her life. Discuss

32. What did Mrs Bixby think of herself? And of Cyril? Was he smarter than her?

33. Do you believe Mrs Bixby will ever get her coat back? Why? Why not?

34.What would you have done if you had been Mrs Bixby and seen your husband’s secretary wearing your
coat?

35. Did you like the ending? Did you expect it? If you didn’t how did you think it would end?