Edward Boyne (Afterward)

Edward Boyne is a man, married to Mary Boyne and a friend of Alida Stair (Wharton 342). In the story, he is often referred to as Ned, which is short for Edward. He is extravagant and was looking for a new home together with his wife, which is why he and his wife are on Alida Stair’s lawn at Pangbourne at the beginning of chapter one (Wharton 342). Among the things that he wants in his new home was a ghost and he complains a bit when Alida Stair mentioned that next to nothing was known about the ghost at Lyng (Wharton 343). Edward’s profession is never directly mentioned, but he must be some kind geological engineer, as indicated by the fact that he moved with his wife from New York to Waukesha in the Middle West. There he got into the possession of the Blue Star Mine and, after fourteen years, made a fortune. With said fortune, he and his wife left America to live in seclusion in England (Wharton 344). Ned plans to write a book at Lyng, the “Economic Basis of Culture” (Wharton 344).

As time at Lyng moves on, Ned seems to get worried. Something bothers him and it is probably both, his book as well as his business with Bob Elwell (Wharton 345). This business with Elwell haunts Edward Boyne and is the reason for his rapid departure from the roof at Lyng upon seeing the ghost which he correctly identifies as Bob Elwell (Wharton 348). When he realizes that there is nobody on his doorstep he quickly collects himself, tells his wife that he had thought the man had been Peters and manages to successfully distract her from the disappearing “Peters” by offering to climb Meldon Steep with her (Wharton 349).

That Edward Boyne seems to be the classical depiction of a man that is in full control of his wife, shows itself in Chapter two, when Mary Boyne is terrified by the newspaper clipping from the Waukesha sentinel. He remains as calm as possible under the circumstances and defuses the situation, reassuring his wife once again that her trust in him is apparently justified (Wharton 352-354).

In chapter three Edward Boyne is visited by Bob Elwell. The kitchen maid had let him in and his own wife had sent him to the library. It is never explained what they do, but ultimately they leave Lyng together (Wharton 359

Wharton, Edith. "Afterward". The Muse's Tragedy and Other Stories . Ed. Candace Waid. London: Penguin Books, 1992. 342-373. Print.