1-

Mary Maloney is described as a warm and peaceful woman who is eagerly awaiting her
husband's return from work. She takes care of the household chores, such as making drinks
and cooking, and seems content in her role as a wife. She is described as having a clear
complexion and a calm look in her eyes, indicating her happiness and satisfaction in her
marriage.

In this type of marriage, the wife's role is portrayed as one of subservience and devotion to her
husband. Mary's primary concern is to please her husband and make him comfortable, as seen
in her anticipation of his arrival and her preparation of his favorite drink. She is also willing to go
to great lengths to ensure his satisfaction, such as offering the detectives investigating her
husband's murder the lamb she had prepared for their supper.

The portrayal of the wife's role in this marriage can be seen as traditional and conforming to
societal expectations of the time. Mary's actions and demeanor suggest that she is content in
her role as a wife and finds fulfillment in taking care of her husband and their home. However, it
is important to note that this portrayal is specific to the story and may not reflect the experiences
or desires of all wives in similar marriages.

2-
Mary and her husband had a usual routine after he came home from work. When he arrived,
Mary would greet him with a kiss and take his coat, hanging it in the cupboard in the hall. She
would then make drinks for both of them, a strong one for him and a weak one for herself. They
would sit in their respective chairs, with Mary sewing and her husband rolling his glass gently so
that the ice knocked against the side.

However, on the night in question, their routine was disrupted. Instead of the usual warm and
peaceful atmosphere, Mary's husband seemed distant and preoccupied. He did not engage in
their usual conversation and did not finish his first drink before speaking. This deviation from
their routine was a significant change that caught Mary's attention and made her feel uneasy.
I'll give you money and see that you're looked after. But there needn't really be any problem. I
hope not, in any case. It wouldn't be very good for my job.

3-
Mr. Maloney's job is not explicitly mentioned in the story. However, it is implied that he holds a
position of authority or importance, as Mary mentions that it wouldn't be good for his job if there
were any problems. The exact nature of his job is left to the reader's interpretation.

The potential impact of Mr. Maloney's job on Mary in the future is uncertain, as the story focuses
on the events surrounding his murder and its aftermath. However, it can be inferred that if he
were alive, his job might have provided financial stability and security for Mary and their unborn
child. Losing him would likely have significant implications for their future well-being.
69 course I'll give you money and see that you're looked after. But there needn't really be any
problem. I hope not, in any case. It wouldn't be very good for my job.'

4-
The specific information about what he "had to tell her" is not provided in the given text. The
passage does mention that he cannot tell her about spending their savings on a ship's
competition ticket, as it would not be possible to keep it a secret. However, the exact details of
what he needs to disclose to her are not explicitly stated.

'Oh, my God,' he said out loud. 'What shall I do?' What, for example, would Ethel say? It was
simply not possible to tell her that he had spent almost all of their two years' savings on a ticket
in a ship's competition. Nor was it possible to keep the matter secret. To do that he would have
to tell her to stop writing cheques. And what about the monthly payments on the television set?
Already he could see the anger in the woman's eyes, the blue becoming grey and the eyes
themselves narrowing, as they always did when there was anger in them. 'Oh, my God. What
shall I do?' It was no use pretending that he had the slightest chance now - not unless the ship
started to go backwards. It was at this moment that an idea came to him, and he jumped.

5-
Mary's reaction after their conversation is described as initially not believing what her husband
had said. She thought that perhaps she had imagined the whole thing and tried to continue with
her normal life, pretending as if she hadn't been listening. However, she couldn't shake off the
feeling of sickness and her mind started racing, considering the potential consequences of her
husband's revelation.

As the wife of a policeman, Mary knew what the punishment for her actions would be, and she
realized that it would be a relief for her. However, she also worried about the fate of her unborn
child and the laws regarding murderers with unborn children. Uncertain about the
consequences, Mary decided that she wasn't prepared to take a chance and took immediate
action to protect herself and her child.

Mary's plan was to create an alibi and make it seem as if nothing had happened. She carried
the piece of meat, which she had used as a weapon to kill her husband, into the kitchen and
placed it in a roasting pan. She turned the cooker on high and put the pan inside, effectively
destroying the evidence. She then washed her hands and went upstairs to her bedroom, where
she tidied her face and tried to smile. She practiced her smile and voice, preparing herself to act
as if nothing had happened. Finally, she left the house, went to a shop, and interacted with the
shopkeeper, maintaining a cheerful and normal demeanor.

Mary's actions indicate that she had a plan to cover up the murder and create an alibi for
herself. She was determined to protect herself and her unborn child, taking immediate steps to
ensure that she appeared innocent and unsuspecting.