The Lowest Rung Together with The Hand on the Latch, St. Luke's Summer and The Understudy

"The Lowest Rung" by Mary Cholmondeley is a story set in the early 1900s that observes society and connections between people. It follows a woman, who we don't know the name of, who is an artist. The story begins with her going outside during a storm to find ideas for her writing. While she's out, she meets a woman who is dressed poorly and is running from something who tells her she's a criminal on the run. It's about being kind and how our personal opinions affect how we see others and who they are, and she decides to help the escapee. The woman tells her sad story, including addiction problems and being forced to move. The story gives us a better understanding of the lives of both women.