Dover Beach

     "I have to leave now," said Mrs. Phelps, shaking after hearing the poem Montag just read to them. "Thank you so much for having us, Mildred," she said to her hostess in an attempt to avoid being rude.
     Mrs. Phelps exited the home leaving Mrs. Bowles, Mildred, and Montag alone.
     Mrs. Bowles looked at Mildred, who was as white as a ghost after hearing the chilling poem that her husband just read. Then she looked at Montag, who held a stiff posture in order to show that he is not backing down and he doesn't regret reading the Dover Beach poem to the women. She felt awkward and decided to leave as well, remembering to thank Mildred, her hostess, like Mrs. Phelps had done.
     Outside, Mrs. Bowles was surprised to find that Mrs. Phelps was still standing outside Montag's home.
     "Clara?" she asked her. "Are you okay?"
     "No, I am not." Mrs. Phelps responded.
     "Well why not?" she questioned.
     "Can you honestly tell me that you're okay after what Montag just read to us?"
     "Well, not exactly, but what do you think the poem means?" Mrs. Bowles asked the distraught woman.
     "I don't know. But it made me uncomfortable. It made me feel hopeless and depressed. All of that stuff about "The Sea of Faith" or whatever it was, it just doesn't bring happy thoughts to my mind." Mrs. Phelps answered.
     "Well, what ever it meant, I can't help but feeling that it is true."
     "I don't know," Mrs. Phelps responded. "All I know is that it isn't good."