Character Analysis
Mrs. Merrill is Rev. Lewis Merrill's wife. Johnny remarks about how she must have been pretty at one time, but now she's totally haggard. She's originally from California, and Johnny imagines that at one time she was tan and healthy-looking. Now, in New Hampshire, she's totally out of her element. She's pale and tired-looking, and she's always getting sick. We don't get to know her all too well aside from these details.