A striped party horn lies beside a white flag planted in a cork on a coir mat.

Original artwork, not a still

Mrs. Finney

Can't we have peace in this house even on New Year's Eve?

— A Letter to Three Wives • 1949

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The speaker asks for peace at home and singles out New Year's Eve as an occasion when it might especially be hoped for. The word even suggests a frustration that has become familiar. Rather than seeking information, the question expresses weariness with whatever is disturbing the household.

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