She hadn't put the key out because she was up she felt 'so mean' she could not sleep. As Ethan searches for the key in the snow, he sees light under the door and Zeena opens it.

When they reach the back door, they cannot find the door key that Zeena always leaves for them. He walks arm in arm with her and when she stumbles, uses the opportunity to put his arm around her. Ethan, however, is unable to communicate his true feelings.Īpproaching the farmhouse, Ethan is reassured that Mattie will not marry Eady. She apologizes for her inadequacies as a houseworker, and asks Ethan to clarify what he means. Mattie interprets Ethan's comment about the fact that she might want to marry Eady to mean that Zeena wants her gone. The couple stops for a moment above the Corbury hill as Mattie tells Ethan about Ned Hale and Ruth Varnum's brush with death as their sled almost hit the elm tree on its downhill run.īecause Ethan is insecure, he intimates that Mattie will be leaving the Fromes' house to marry Eady. He feels happy by what he perceives as her choice of him over Eady. Mattie refuses Eady and as she goes off alone to walk home, Ethan catches up with her. He remembers the morning when Zeena observed him shaving and he realized that Zeena is aware of everything that goes on around her - in spite of her illnesses.įeeling shy because of his recollections of Zeena and his reaction to Mattie's attentions to Eady, Ethan decides to test Mattie and see if she will ride home with Eady.

Ethan thinks about Zeena's 'sickly' nature and suspects that she feigns part of her illness. This train of thought is triggered by the sight of Mattie treating Eady to some of the mannerisms and affectations that Ethan thought she reserved for him alone. He also acknowledges his fear that Mattie has no real affection for him and that Zeena will uncover his growing love for Mattie. His jealousy prompts Ethan to recall some of the qualities that make Mattie precious to him. Instead of going into the church, Ethan hides in the shadows near a window and watches Mattie dance with Denis Eady.

As Chapter 1 begins, Ethan is going into town to walk Mattie Silver home from a dance at the church.

Edith wharton ethan