Mrs. Mabb

[otherlander]

This post contains spoilers, but I suppose everyone here's read it...

I just couldn't read this as a happy ending fairy-tale. My interpretation is that the main character's, Venetia's, fiance was killed in battle and she became mad. My strongest argument would be that, in the end, after the apparent reunion of the two lovers, Venetia's sister Fanny finds her and calls out to her husband saying "I found her!". She doesn't seem to notice Captain Fox. Maybe it's because he's not there.

Also, Mrs. Mabb's house, which is everywhere and nowhere at the same time brings to mind death, which is not tangible, yet is a reality for everyone.

Plus, the first phrase of the short story mentions a lady who suffered a great disappointment. We are led to believe that the lady was Venetia, who was "abandoned" by her fiance. But the phrase could also refer to Fanny, who witness her sister go mad.

Thoughts, please?

[The Colour of Heartache]

It's been a while since I read the story so I can't speak to the validity of your reading -- in fact, I'm not sure I completely buy it. That said, I think it's fantastic. I'm a sucker for a tragic ending and I may actuallly prefer your version.

[Edimene]

Humm humm...
I reread the story and I have to detach myself from your interpretation; though it is very fascinating.

I think the lady who suffered a great disappointment was Mrs Mabb herself. "Disappointment" is a word that matches with the idea of a failed enterprise or a love affair gone to pieces, not with death and insanity: if your sweetheart died or your sister turned mad you wouldn't talk of disappointment, but of pain, sorrow, tragedy, despair, and so on.
Venetia and Fanny were both greatly diappointed for captain Fox's betraial, but this happened in the beginning of the story; while the first phrase says at the end of the spring, that is just when the story ends. For this reason the lady in question could be Mrs Mabb, who is forced to set captain Fox free, despite she hoped to keep him by herself forever.

Then, I think that Fanny said "I found her" because she was actually searching only for Venetia, only Venetia was important for her... In the dark, she maybe hadn't noticed at first glance that there was someone else with her; or she might had thought that he was simply somebody who had rescued her sister, like John Purvis.

[otherlander]

Oh, that's right! I didn't pay enough attention to the chronological aspect. I'm guess I'm more on the pessimistic side by nature :D

That being said, I really like your interpretation.