When Florence was 26, after her employer made an improper sexual advance toward her, Florence bought a ticket to New York City, packed a bag, and left home. She left behind her dying mother, her drunken and bewildered brother, and her good friend Deborah.
In New York, Florence married a man named Frank. Their marriage lasted for more than 10 years before he left her after an especially bitter argument. Rather than being depressed over this turn of circumstances, however, Florence was relieved. Frank moved in with another woman and later died overseas during WWI. Florence thinks now that she would like to find Frank's grave and place flowers on it, and she wonders how he died.
Florence weeps for the lost Frank and hears Gabriel's voice behind her. The sound of his voice triggers thoughts of her friend and his first wife, Deborah. Once, Florence had received a letter from Deborah telling of Deborah's suspicions that Gabriel had fathered a son by another woman. For years, Florence had planned to show that letter to Gabriel; even tonight, at the church service, the letter is in her purse. Now she wonders whether Deborah had ever confronted Gabriel with her suspicions, and she wonders if she will ever show him the letter that she has carried for over 20 years. Florence has been waiting for a time when revealing the letter could do the most damage to her brother. She realizes that she will probably be dead before the long awaited day when her evidence could bring about his destruction.
Florence is suddenly furious at God for loving her mother and brother more than loving her. She is angry that she, "who had only sought to walk upright," was to die while her brother, who wallowed in sin, was allowed to live. And she is angry that her mother in heaven will see her daughter's descent into hell. Florence collapses sobbing at the altar and feels the hand of death upon her and hears its voice warn her that her time to die is approaching.
