Inference
Inferring
Forming an opinion that something is probably true based on available information (“reading between the lines”).
“On the sideboard behind her, two tall glasses, soda water, whiskey. Fresh ice cubes in the Thermos bucket…
Now and again she would glance up at the clock, but without anxiety, merely to please herself with the thought that each minute gone by made it nearer the time when he would come. There was a slow smiling air about.”
From this we can infer that…
2. “There was a slow smiling air about her, and about everything she did. The drop of a head as she bent over her sewing was curiously tranquil. Her skin -for this was her sixth month with child-had acquired a wonderful translucent quality, the mouth was soft, and the eyes, with their new placid look, seemed larger darker than before.”
From this we can infer that…
3. “She loved to luxuriate in the presence of this man... She loved him for the way he sat loosely in a chair, for the way he came in a door, or moved slowly across the room with long strides.”
From this we can infer that…
4. “He lifted his glass and drained it in one swallow although there was still half of it, at least half of it left.. She wasn’t really watching him, but she knew what he had done because she heard the ice cubes falling back against the bottom of the empty glass when he lowered his arm. He paused a moment, leaning forward in the chair, then he got up and went slowly over to fetch himself another.”
From this we can infer that…
5. “I’ll get it!” she cried, jumping up.
“Sit down,” he said.
When he came back, she noticed that the new drink was dark amber with the quantity of whiskey in it.”
From this we can infer that…
6. “This is going to be a bit of a shock to you, I’m afraid,” he said. “But I’ve thought about it a good deal and I’ve decided the only thing to do is tell you right away. I hope you won’t blame me too much.”
And he told her. It didn’t take long, four or five minutes at most..”
From this we can infer that…
7. “Of course I’ll give you money and see you’re looked after. But there needn’t really be any fuss. I hope not anyway. It wouldn’t be very good for my job.”
From this we can infer that…
8. “Maybe, if she went about her business and acted as though she hadn’t been listening, then later, when she sort of woke up again, she might find none of it had ever happened.”
More Inference questions:
What inference can you make about Patrick when he says “It wouldn’t be very good for my job”?
Why did Mary practice in front of the mirror before she went to the grocer?
Why did Mary cry when she came back and saw her husband dead on the floor?
Mary Maloney was offered by policemen to go to a different house or, at least, to move a room. Why did she refuse?
Why does Mary Maloney begin to giggle at the end of the story?