Apple tree

Author: George Gissing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: Arthur and his wife come to the countryside for a trip on their silver anniversary. To his surprise, he finds this misty, mysterious, and watercolor-like place very familiar. He remembers that he had visited here as a university student, staying at a farm and meeting Maggie, a village girl. They fell in love at first sight and became engaged under the beautiful apple tree, vowing to take her to London to live together. However, when he goes to the nearby town bank to withdraw money for their journey, he unexpectedly encounters a promise about Maggie. He feels his soul condemned, but still chooses to return to London and marry Stella. Many years later, on their silver anniversary, he returns here and discovers Maggie's grave after she had become mentally ill and died. Everything remains the same, but the most beautiful things in life—"that apple tree, that song, and that gold"—are gone.