And then, unexpectedly, Stanley made his announcement.

On that first day, Blanche literally thought she was going to die, or, at the very least, go out of her mind.

It might have been easier for her if Kitti Walker hadn't been everything that Blanche was not.

Kitti was thirty years younger than Stanley, taller than Stanley, prettier than Stanley had any right to hope for, much less expect. Kitti could have married a score of men. There was no reason for her to marry someone like Stanley Gilborn, there was no need for her to marry Stanley.

Kitti had come into the office, on somebody's recommendation, because she needed help in preparing her income tax return.

Stanley had filled out the return and because, when he was finished, it was close to the lunch hour, he had politely asked Kitti to join him, never expecting her to accept.

Blanche knew all this because the door to Stanley's office was open and, without straining too hard, she could hear everything that was said.

Stanley had gone out, saying he would be back in an hour. He hadn't come back for over two.

After that day, Blanche still didn't know exactly what had happened. There were mornings when Stanley came in late, afternoons when he left early, days when he didn't come in at all.

Blanche knew something must be causing Stanley's new, strange behavior but she never once connected it with Kitti Walker. It was too unprecedented. Then, six weeks after the day Kitti first came into the office, Stanley announced he and Kitti were married.