The Fruit of the Tree

Edith Wharton's novels and short stories are full of her humorous understanding of the upper classes. Besides her writing, she was a highly regarded landscape architect and interior designer. She left America for France beginning in 1907 and stayed during World War 1. Even though a foreigner she remained and helped the refugees wherever she could. This story is about a nurse and the doctor she falls in love with. The doctor is working to reform deplorable labor conditions for the poor. The doctor desires a gentle woman from upper society who is the nurse's best friend. The society girl financially supports the doctor's causes and they marry. They find they have different interests. He wants social reform she wants luxury and comfort. After they separate the wife is injured and breaks her spine. She begs the nurse to kill her. The nurse does so and after she and the doctor marry she is haunted by the fact that her new husband suspects what she has done.