Mrs. Gummidge's suggestion is striking, because it almost makes it sound as though both Ham and Emily have died. In Emily's case, this makes some sense, given the prevailing wisdom about the fate of fallen women. In Ham's case, it perhaps foreshadows the fact that Emily's jilting of him does indirectly lead to his death, though not for several more years. Regardless, Mrs. Gummidge's suggestion also highlights the importance of memory in the novel by suggesting that recalling happier times can be a way of coping with the present, and even gathering strength for the future.