Hypothesis: That Gossip is the most destructive vice, and it leads to Vinny's ultimate death and also Helen departure.
             Helen wanted to be with Mr. Moller, but because of the towns Gossip she new that they could never live happily without being ridiculed and victimized by the towns people. It would also ruin their reputation as schoolteachers. Gossip cause the entire town to live in secrecy and fear, as the people feed on Gossip and other people personal issues and problems, especially private and intimate secrecy. Helen and Mr. Moller were forced into concealment as they relied on their status in the town as a disguise. Thea Astley made us ponder the question, whether or not gossip was worse than adultery by making the gossip seem so destructive when adultery was running away from it.
             The town was so critical and disparaging that it became inhuman and harmful turning the people into gossip hungry vultures. Helen saw the gossip going on about Vinny and she didn't want that happening to herself and Mr. Moller. The town itself converted mere chitchat and hearsay into rumors and scandals. The gossip within the town was so sadistic and inhuman to the point were the town's people appeared to get pleasure from other peoples pain.
             After Vinny mistakenly thought that she was pregnant, it reminded her of her mother hauling the child, and the struggle she endured which was mentions towards the beginning of the book. She also was afraid that this would ultimately find her as the talk of the town, and amongst the gossip she didn't want to be apart of. After reading the book, the last sentence stood out. This sentence basically told that Vinny never wanted to be hurt again. When this was said Vinny wasn't talking about physical pain but emotional and mental pain caused by the people she trusted.
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