The Open Window
by Saki

The Open Window: Flashbacks 1 key example

Flashbacks
Explanation and Analysis—Sister Knows Best:

Although Mr. Nuttel's sister does not appear in the story as a traditional character, the reader hears her speak early on. To offer context for why Mr. Nuttel is paying "formal visits on a succession of total strangers," Saki includes a flashback to a conversation  that took place before he left for the countryside. Despite being absent from the story's events, Mr. Nuttel's sister nonetheless pushes events of the story forward.

'I know how it will be,' his sister had said when he was preparing to migrate to this rural retreat; 'you will bury yourself down there and not speak to a living soul, and your nerves will be worse than ever from moping. I shall just give you letters of introduction to all the people I know there. Some of them, as far as I can remember, were quite nice.'