metaphors of growth and fertility buihninto the story (and heavy-handedly correspondingnto Caroline’s finally achievingnfeminine maturity, at age thirty),nCaroline still casts about for an imagento better describe her lover. She finallynfinds it: “soft spring rain.” Incidentally,nin order that outward events chime wellnwith what is, after all, a mawkishlynpraise-filled account, Anna is a devoutnCatholic, trudging off to church everynmorning at five, and a dedicated nurse,nso dedicated in fact that she allows anninfluenza to carry her off in the coursenof ministering to the victims of a kindnof local plague.n-