Pages 10-20:

The story goes back in time to when Ethan is a young man. The author describes the Starkfield of Ethan's youth, which is relatively the same as when the story began. It is winter, and Ethan trudges through the snow towards the church. He is going to pick up his wife's cousin Mattie, who is at a party. Mattie Silver came to live with the Frome's a year ago, because Zeena (Ethan's wife) is sickly, and requested that Mattie come live with them to help out around the house. It didn't take long for Ethan to fall in love with Mattie. She was young, beautiful, and lively. As Ethan waits to walk Mattie home, he reflects on how much they have in common, and all the reasons that he fell for her. He also grows jelous because Mattie is dancing at the party with a man named Denis Eady; and he begins to question whether his wife is becoming suspicious of Ethan Mattie.