Framton Nuttel had a nervous breakdown. He migrates to the rural spaces in order to seek some relief. His sister, however, was sceptical that his problem might get worse as he would hardly get to meet anyone in the rural spaces and lose it completely. She, therefore, gives him letters of introduction to meet people whom she considered quite nice and who could keep good company to Nuttel.
Framton Nuttel Meets a Young Lady
Framton nuttel goes to pay a visit to one such lady, Mrs, Sappleton. While waiting for Mrs Sappleton, who was to come down to meet him shortly, he meets her niece. The niece was a very self-possessed young lady of fifteen. Nuttel attempts to say something nice to the niece, but he was unable to come up with appropriate sentences. The young lady broke the silence and began asking him questions. She found out that Framton Nuttel neither Knew many people in that place nor knew anything about her aunt.
The Niece Began to Supply Information about her Aunt
Gathering from Framton that he had no prior knowledge about her aunt, the young lady began telling him her aunt’s tragic story. She told him that some tragic incident took place about three years ago. She told him the secret of the French window and why it was always kept open, even on an October afternoon.
The young lady told Framton that three years ago from the same window her aunt’s husband and two brothers and a spaniel dog went out for shooting and never came back till date. While going to their favourite shooting ground, they got engulfed in a dog. Their bodies were never recovered. Her aunt, however, continues to believe that some day they would come back. Thus, the open window!
Details about the Group that Left
The niece also shares with Framton the details about the group that left. She recalls her aunt telling her that her husband was carrying a white waterproof coat over his arm. Ronnie, her aunt’s younger brother, would always sing, “Bertie, why do you bound?” to tease his sister. The niece breaks down at this moment and tells Framton that at times she got a creepy feeling that the three of them would walk in from the window any time.
Mrs Sappleton Enters the Room
Just then, Mrs Sappleton enters the room, full of apologies for the delay. She also apologises for the open window, explaining that her husband and brothers would be returning home any time. While Mrs Sappleton kept talking about the shooting, the marshes, the duck and so on; poor Framton felt miserable. He tried to sway the conversation to less ghastly topics but without any success. He tried to tell Mrs Sappleton about his condition, the doctor’s treatment and recommendations, being aware that all her attention was focussed on the open window.
Framton was Horrified and Ran for his Life
Just while they were talking thus, Mrs Sappleton announced with great excitement, “Here they are at last!” Framton shivered to see three figures walking towards the window. They all carried guns and one of them also carried a white coat on his shoulders. He could also see a tired brown spaniel walking with them. As they neared the house, he heard a hoarse voice singing, “I say, Bertie, why do you bound?”
To Framton, these three figures walking towards the house was no less than encountering ghosts. He grabbed his stick and hat and ran through the hall door towards the gate. The entire group was amazed to see Framton running, without a word of polite greeting or farewell. At this, the young lady informed the group that perhaps it was the spaniel that scared him.