(1) Horace confesses to his wife that his business was doomed from the start.  He didn't know how to break the news to her.  This could be paralleled with the story of the soldiers tale and the futility of war.  This moment brings his wife into the story and possible introduces her story also.  She, like most mothers, likes to think she created the perfect nest (house) for her family.  When all this comes crashing down on her, it is a terrible blow.  A belief in a man that she thought would take care of her, like the earth, the seasons, wind, rain, water and the sun.  She rushes off to confront him and is stopped by the incident on the bridge.

(2) Horace's wife discovers that his business has failed, and that he has plans on foreclosing on his home and is up to his ears in debt.  This could be paralleled with the false hopes and the futility of war.  This moment brings his wife into the story and possible introduces her story also.  She, like most mothers, likes to think she created the perfect nest (house) for her family.  When all this comes crashing down on her, it is a terrible blow.  A belief in a man that she thought would take care of her, like the earth, the seasons, wind, rain, water and the sun.  She rushes off to confront him, to hear the truth from his mouth when she is stopped by the incident on the bridge.