Mrs. Drover sees a woman of forty-four in the mirror, whose physical appearance has been visibly altered by the enduring hardships of war.
Upon polishing a clear patch on her dusty mirror to get a good look at herself, Mrs. Drover is directly "confronted" by her own reflection. This moment reveals not just her current age, but also the story of her life's journey, particularly the profound impact of recent events.
A Reflection of Time and Experience
The image Mrs. Drover encounters is a stark representation of the quick passage of time since her marriage. The reflection she sees is not merely an age, but a testament to the challenges she has faced.
Key aspects of her reflection include:
- Her Age: She is definitively seen as a woman who is forty-four years old.
- Impact of War: Her physical appearance has undergone noticeable changes due to the severe hardships brought on by the war. These changes are a direct consequence of the difficult circumstances she has endured.
- Passage of Time: The reflection underscores how quickly time has elapsed since her marriage, highlighting a sense of accelerated aging or a life lived under duress.
In essence, Mrs. Drover's mirror reflects a mature woman bearing the visible marks of a life shaped by both the swift progression of years and the profound toll of wartime struggles.