Adela's constant suspicion of evil in the town demonstrates her questioning and meddling nature. Miss Strangeworth acts as if she is perfect throughout the story; this snobbish demeanor contrasts sharply with the reserved ways of the townspeople furthering the conflict. At the climax of the story, when the Harris boy picks up the letter he's seen her drop the reader is left to wonder what will happen. When the climax is resolved by the killing of the prized "Strangeworth roses" the next morning the conflict is completed and thus the central idea is shown.
Integral to the conflict, characterization of Miss Strangeworth is offered in many places throughout the writing. The characterization begins initially with the name chosen for her. The name Strangeworth, by definition, suggests something strange or not right about the character. The characterization is continued subtle by Strangeworth's chance meetings with some of the townspeople. When she comes into contact with Mr. Lewis, the town grocer, she notices that "[he] looks worried" and "He looked very tired indeed". These simple observations start to mean more to the reader when Strangeworth comes into contact with more of the townspeople. While Adela is in the grocery store another character, Martha Harper enters to buy some sugar. Miss Strangeworth immediately takes notice that "[Martha Harper] had not been taking proper care of herself" and that "[she] was not as young as she used to be." Strangeworth's judgmental personality is enforced once again on her walk home from the store when she takes notice that "Miss Chandler [the librarian] had not taken much trouble with her hair that morning." It is also mentioned the "Miss Strangeworth hated sloppiness" as though she had never been sloppy before. Through these observations made by Adela and the insight offered by the author the reader can understand her judgmental and snobby attitude.
