Agamekeeper，curedbythedoctorofinflammationofthelungs，hadgivenmadamealittleItaliangreyhound；shetookheroutwalking，forshewentoutsometimesinordertobealoneforamoment，andnottoseebeforehereyestheeternalgardenandthedustyroad。ShewentasfarasthebeechesofBanneville，nearthedesertedpavilionwhichformsanangleofthewallonthesideofthecountry。Amidstthevegetationoftheditchtherearelongreedswithleavesthatcutyou。
Shebeganbylookingroundhertoseeifnothinghadchangedsincelastshehadbeenthere。Shefoundagaininthesameplacesthefoxglovesandwallflowers，thebedsofnettlesgrowingroundthebigstones，andthepatchesoflichenalongthethreewindows，whoseshutters，alwaysclosed，wererottingawayontheirrustyironbars。Herthoughts，aimlessatfirst，wanderedatrandom，likehergreyhound，whoranroundandroundinthefields，yelpingaftertheyellowbutterflies，chasingtheshrew-mice，ornibblingthepoppiesontheedgeofacornfield。
Thengraduallyherideastookdefiniteshape，and，sittingonthegrassthatshedugupwithlittleprodsofhersunshade，Emmarepeatedtoherself，“Goodheavens!WhydidImarry？“
Sheaskedherselfifbysomeotherchancecombinationitwouldhavenotbeenpossibletomeetanotherman；andshetriedtoimaginewhatwouldhavebeentheseunrealisedevents，thisdifferentlife，thisunknownhusband。All，surely，couldnotbelikethisone。Hemighthavebeenhandsome，witty，distinguished，attractive，suchas，nodoubt，heroldcompanionsoftheconventhadmarried。Whatweretheydoingnow？Intown，withthenoiseofthestreets，thebuzzofthetheatresandthelightsoftheballroom，theywerelivingliveswheretheheartexpands，thesensesbourgeonout。Butshe——herlifewascoldasagarretwhosedormerwindowlooksonthenorth，andennui，thesilentspider，wasweavingitswebinthedarknessineverycornerofherheart。
Sherecalledtheprizedays，whenshemountedtheplatformtoreceiveherlittlecrowns，withherhairinlongplaits。Inherwhitefrockandopenprunellashoesshehadaprettyway，andwhenshewentbacktoherseat，thegentlemenbentoverhertocongratulateher；thecourtyardwasfullofcarriages；farewellswerecalledtoherthroughtheirwindows；themusicmasterwithhisviolincasebowedinpassingby。Howfarallofthis!Howfaraway!ShecalledDjali，tookherbetweenherknees，andsmoothedthelongdelicatehead，saying，“Come，kissmistress；youhavenotroubles。“