Rural New England, 1913. This script recounts a conversation between an old woman and a person named Tom, who has come to see John Hall, Tom’s friend and the man of the house. Coincidentally, John has gone to Tom’s place to meet him. While waiting for John, Tom and the old woman talk about him and Estelle, the eponymic housekeeper, the old woman’s daughter, and John’s mistress of fifteen years—who has left him to marry another man. Then John comes home, alone.