Letters
Letters are a symbol of communication in the novel, and they are the means with which Eloise and Philip begin their romance. Eloise feels lost after her best friend marries, so her correspondence with Philip provides a sense and purpose in her life. Philip uses letters to communicate his true feelings to Eloise at the end, as he is not very good with spoken words.
The lake
The lake symbolizes something dangerous and dreadful to Philip. He rescued Marina out of the lake, preventing her to commit suicide, only to see her die after a few days. After he sees his children and Eloise bathing in the lake, he is overcome by panic and shouts for them to get out.
Philip's flowers
Philip’s flowers represent his starting interest and growing affection towards Eloise. He sends her flowers in his letters to let her know about his interest, and later expresses his affection with flowers, to declare her love with a bed of roses at the end.
Marina’s portrait
Eloise and Philip stand in front of Marina’s portrait on several occasions to talk about his late wife. Eloise is afraid that Philip loved his wife and will never love her, but he reassures her differently while looking at the portrait. He reveals to her the anger he felt for not being able to help Marina, and the anger he felt at her for casting a shadow upon his life. The ghost of Marina’s presence haunts him and makes him afraid of drifting into a melancholy life with Eloise as well.
