Charlie’s wife Helen died of heart trouble the causes of which were deliberated by those close to her.

 “Yes, heart trouble.”Marion spoke as if the phrase had another meaning for her.

 Helen’s sister, Marion, blames Charlie for Helen’s death. She believes that after he locked her out in the snow following an argument at a party, Helen succumbed to ill health and never recovered. In Charlie’s view, the effects of that unfortunate night did not contribute to her death-

 Her escaping pneumonia by a miracle,

Marion is bitter about her sister’s death, Charlie’s inadequacy and the lack of success she and her husband have had despite their own sober lifestyle:

…the discouragement of ill health and adverse circumstances made it necessary for her to believe in tangible villainy and a tangible villain.