Yes, you can play about with other interpretations but I think in context Watson must be referring to the death of his wife. It's only an oblique reference but he obviously expects the reader to understand what he means - which means it must be a reference to someone he's already mentioned in his stories. And I too like to think of them having a happy marriage.
I am convinced by Watson's behaviour in EMPT that Mary must have died over a year before. Which would mean of course that she was dead when he published FINA. But he doesn't say one way or the other whether she's alive or dead in December 1893 - and it may still just have felt too recent and private to mention in the story. Mary would have been dead several years by the time EMPT was written and published, so perhaps it was easier then to mention her death.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2015-08-10 06:29 pm (UTC)I am convinced by Watson's behaviour in EMPT that Mary must have died over a year before. Which would mean of course that she was dead when he published FINA. But he doesn't say one way or the other whether she's alive or dead in December 1893 - and it may still just have felt too recent and private to mention in the story. Mary would have been dead several years by the time EMPT was written and published, so perhaps it was easier then to mention her death.