The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

Two days after the family’s massive argument, neither Roy nor Zeddie are speaking to Mercy. Horatio arrives with mail, including a note from Cunningham inviting her to discuss business matters with him. She debates ignoring the letter, then decides to attend the meeting.

Cunningham asks if she and Roy have considered his buyout offer, and Mercy deflects the inquiry. Cunningham says that he has recently made a deal with the local lumber company for exclusive buying rights to the lumber necessary to make funeral boats. They both know that this is likely a death blow to Birdsall & Son, for Mercy’s company cannot afford to ship lumber in from elsewhere. Cunningham condescendingly tells her that he is proud of how well she has managed on her own, but he encourages her to give up and take the money for her family’s sake. Mercy defiantly refuses.

She returns to the office and tells her father about Cunningham’s news. Her father does not respond. In the morning, Horatio arrives with another letter. Her pen pal says that he is afraid to meet her because he fears that he is “a better paper doll than a human being” (159). He says that she deserves a better friend than him.