The Real Right Thing
The Real Right Thing is a short story written by Henry James and published in 1899. Plot summary The story begins with the mention of Ashton Doyne, a distinguished writer, who left his wife a widow. Mrs. Doyne decides to write a biography about her husband. Three months after the author's death, Mr. George Withermore, a young journalist and friend of the author, is approached by Mr. Doyne's publishers stating that Mrs. Doyne wants him to take on the role of writing her husband's biography. Withermore is surprised with this request. Nevertheless, Withermore takes the offer. Mr. Withermore and Mrs. Doyne make an arrangement to finally meet. Mr. Withermore tells us his impression of Mrs. Doyne. He says she is "strange" and "never thought her an agreeable one". Mrs. Doyne's intention to write the biography was not based on her behalf of her husband but of herself. "She had not taken Doyne seriously enough in life, but the biography should be a solid reply to every imputation on herself." Mrs. Doyne takes George Withermore into her husband's study." Mrs. Doyne leaves George Withermore alone for him to look over pieces of her husband's past. Every now and then she'd pop her head in to check on him, and he'd thank her for her help. It becomes apparent that even though her husband may not have trusted her, she trusted his friend George. George determines that although she acts okay, Mrs. Doyne is not at peace yet with the death of her husband and the anxiety-causing grief follows her around. Although she leaves the room quite frequently, George thinks that he can feel her; one night while sitting at Ashton's desk looking over his correspondence, he feels as though someone is watching behind him. It was Mrs. Doyne who had entered the room without making a sound. When this encounter happens, George admits that he believed it was Ashton himself standing behind him. Mrs. Doyne admits that she still feels as though Ashton is around her, which George finds very surprising. George tells Mrs. Doyne that working in the place his friend worked, using his utensils and reading his written word, he feels as though Ashton is just out for a walk, and it seems impossible that he is really gone. As their discussion on this matter deepens, Mrs. Doyne reveals to George that she truly believes Ashton is around, to which George laughs and says that they better keep him happy if he is. Mrs. Doyne looks at him with a "vague distress" look in her eyes. Mrs. Doyne exits the room that evening telling George that she only came in to see if he needed help, convincing George that she did only have his best interest at heart." George starts to anticipate the evenings more and more each day because he enjoys going to the house and feeling a personal connection to Ashton's rumored presence; he looks forward to going there every evening. George is elated with feelings that