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Ethan goes out to work on the farm early the following day, he thinks only of Mattie while he works. Then when Ethan returns to the house for a bit, he is shocked to see Zeena dressed in her best out-fit and with her bags all packed. Zeena explains that her pains have been getting worse, and she is going to stay with an aunt of her's out of town so that she can go and visit a new and respected doctor in the area. Ethan is overjoyed by the news of Zeena leaving town for the night, and basically holds the door open for her to walk out (however he does not even bother to drive her to the train station). All day while going about his daily business Ethan imagines the ideal night him and Mattie will share later that evening. After Ethan delivers his last load of lumber for the day he returns home, where Mattie has dinner ready, they enjoy a nice quiet meal until the cat knocks down one of Zeena's favorite china dishes and it breaks. Mattie is hysterical because the dish was a wedding preasent for Ethan and Zeena, and she knows she shouldn't have used it.