She keeps on hoping from a word from Penelope, but not in any strenuous way. She hopes as people who know better hope for undeserved blessings, spontaneous remissions, things of that sort.
The character in Alice Munro's "Runaway" quietly clings to the possibility of receiving a word from Penelope. This longing is not desperate; rather, it reflects a deeper understanding of the unpredictability of life. Her hope is laced with a sense of realism, acknowledging that such blessings often come without effort or expectation.
This subtle hope resembles the way people wish for unexpected positive changes, like a miraculous recovery. It’s a gentle yearning for something elusive, capturing the essence of human desire for connection and understanding, without any pressure for it to materialize.
