2. • Colette relate a common situation in which a
woman meets the ex-wife of her husband ( in those
days an uncommon situation) and Colette explains
this kind of awkward situation and the thoughts of
the new wife trough an interesting way.
• Alice has never before laid eyes on Marc’s ex-wife.
• He never told her about “other wife”…
How did Alice know about the existence of the exwife?
3. • They encounter her in a restaurant, when the head
waiter is trying to seat the married couple by the
bay window ,very close to the small table where the
other woman is seated.
• He starts to behave rare, he says “we will be more
comfortable there” that Alice start to ask why….
• He has to tell her the true after Marc ordered food.
4. • From that moment on, it is all Alice can do to avoid staring
at the woman continuously.
• Marc insists that his previous marriage was doomed from
the start -- "total incompatibility!“
• What does Marc says about the divorce?
• Marc says that they divorced quickly and no residual
feelings remain but after that he started to love Alice and
she was able to be happy with him.
5. • Alice started to feel jealous about her blue eyes and
hair and ask “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
• What did he said?
“ But I’d never thought about it!”
6. • They ate and drank happily…..
• They thought each that the other had forgotten the
woman….
• Alice start to talk about the other woman again and
Marc feel bad about the uncomfortable moment that
he ask “Are you embarrassed?
• How is the reaction of Alice?
7. • She says that the other woman has to be embarrassed but
she doesn’t, actually, she is having a great time
• What did Marc says?
• “I know that looks of hers.”
• Alice is curious about Marc’s answer.
• Marc says that the other wife wasn’t happy with him, he
didn’t succeed because “She was hard to please” in
contrast to Alice, who is "obviously" completely happy.
8. • How is the reaction of Alice?
• Alice cast brief glances at the woman, she looks so happy,
independent, with an expression of satisfaction that Alice
begin to feel rare.
• Marc admits that he couldn’t do anything for his ex-wife but
to feel sorry because she was never happy so Marc says
“We are happy… aren’t we, darling?
• She didn’t reply, she just observe him and she asked
herself “What more did she want, then?”
9. • While Marc was paying and doing other things, she
continued to watch the woman with envious curiosity…..
• The ex-wife clearly doesn't feel she needs to indulge
anybody. While Alice is nearly jumping out of her skin from
nervousness, the ex-wife isn't uncomfortable in her
singlehood at all…………
• Colette's last sentence tells us Alice even sees the woman
as "superior“.
