Essay Review - The Open Window

The Open Window

Saki

published in 1914

This is another school reread for me, and one of my favourites.
Our narrator, a shy man with tremendous social anxiety. Has recently moved into a new area where he knows few people. To assist him in socializing (which he would rather not do) his sister has sent him a list of her friends with whom he should pay a social call  to be polite). He pays a call to Mrs. Sappleton; where he is informed by her niece, that he has chosen the anniversary of her husband, and brother's disappearance to visit. That since the
vanishing her aunt has become mentally infirm and often forgets that her brothers and husband will never return again. Leaving the window open so that she may watch for them. Mrs. Sappleton arrives, appearing well and not grieved in anyway (thus it seems confirming her mental fracture with reality) and after a few minutes of conversation goes to the window. Were her husband and brothers can be seen returning from a hunting trip...

This is harder to attach book recommendations too, a manipulative main character that is not our protagonist. Is the main theme I have gone with.