Light-Fingered Gentry

"Light-Fingered Gentry" by David Graham Phillips is a story focused on how people deal with each other and fit into society, closely following characters as they live their lives through big changes. The story is mainly about Neva Carlin and Horace Armstrong, whose marriage struggles and emotional distance affect everything around them. Early on, Neva, a beautiful but sad young woman, wants to talk privately with Horace, her husband. Their talk shows a big gap in their marriage caused by unmet desires and the pain of losing a child. As they face their feelings, Neva speaks about wanting to be free, which starts a serious talk about the choices they made that led to them both being unhappy. This part feels very sad as both realize how things really are, leading them to seek their own paths within the rules of their world.