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She felt a tingling in her hands and arms, but that came from walking, she supposed. And when she breathed, something light and sad—no, not sad, exactly—something gentle seemed to move in her bosom.
The narrator describes how Miss Brill feels when she walks through the park and breathes in the autumn air. The tingling of her hands and arms and the light, sad feeling when she breathes could be signs of Miss Brill’s age. Her body is changing, weakening. But she refuses to accept that she is aging or that she might feel sad at the realization that the seasons are changing. Metaphorically, Miss Brill’s summer has also ended, and her autumn has begun.
On her way home she usually bought a slice of honey-cake at the baker’s. It was her Sunday treat. Sometimes there was an almond in her slice, sometimes not. It made a great difference. If there was an almond it was like carrying home a tiny present—a surprise—something that might very well not have been there. She hurried on the almond Sundays and struck the match for the kettle in quite a dashing way.
After the young lovers insult her as being silly, old, and unwanted, Miss Brill retreats from the park. Mansfield does not immediately describe this retreat, however. Instead, she describes what usually happens on Miss Brill’s way home. On any other Sunday, she would stop at the bakery for a treat. The treat is not all that exciting in itself, just a slice of honey-cake. But procuring the treat is a special ritual for Miss Brill, made all the more special when the slice of cake includes an almond. Getting an almond in her cake makes the ordinary day better. On the lucky days, she adds a dramatic flare to the otherwise ordinary act of striking a match for the fire that boils water for her tea. The description of Miss Brill’s post-park routine shows that she takes pleasure in the small things. Perhaps the small things are all she has: no grand adventures, no big presents, no substantial surprises. She treats herself because there is no one else to treat her. Yet on this day, she feels hurt and dispirited. She sees herself as silly, old, and unwanted, not worthy of a special treat.
