▁wed ding ▁anni versary ▁party , ▁but ▁leaves ▁him ▁for ▁another ▁man ▁within ▁a ▁few ▁months . ▁Henry ▁and ▁Julia ▁Wit itter ly : ▁A ▁wealth y , ▁social - cl im bing ▁couple ▁who ▁employ ▁Kate ▁as ▁a ▁companion ▁to ▁Mrs ▁W itt iter ly . ▁Mrs ▁W itt iter ly ▁is ▁a ▁hy po ch ond ri ac ▁and ▁puts ▁on ▁a ▁show ▁of ▁her ▁fra ilty ▁and ▁poor ▁health , ▁but ▁she ▁has ▁a ▁fier ce ▁temper ▁when ▁she ▁does ▁not ▁get ▁her ▁way . ▁Mr ▁W itt iter ly ▁flat ters ▁his ▁wife ▁and ▁to ad ies ▁to ▁her ▁every ▁wh im . ▁They ▁are ▁ob liv ious ▁to ▁the ▁de grad ation ▁Kate ▁is ▁subject ed ▁to ▁under ▁their ▁nos es , ▁only ▁concerned ▁that ▁they ▁are ▁being ▁visited ▁by ▁no blem en . ▁ ▁Mrs . ▁Wit itter ly ▁becomes ▁je alous ▁of ▁Kate . ▁ ▁She ▁repr im ands ▁Kate ▁for ▁fl ir ting ▁with ▁the ▁no blem en ▁that ▁call , ▁but ▁never ▁allows ▁Kate ▁to ▁miss ▁the ▁vis its ▁since ▁it ' s ▁obvious ▁that ▁she ▁is ▁the ▁reason ▁for ▁the ▁call . ▁ ▁Nicholas ▁res c ues ▁Kate ▁from ▁their ▁employ , ▁and ▁they ▁are ▁happy ▁to ▁see ▁her ▁go . ▁ ▁They ▁do ▁not ▁pay ▁Kate ▁her ▁last ▁sal ary . ▁Charles ▁and ▁Ned ▁Che ery ble : ▁Ident ical ▁tw in ▁brothers , ▁wealth y ▁" G erman - mer ch ants " ▁( mer ch ants ▁who ▁trade ▁intern ation