Part 2: Chapter 13 Summary

Rodolphe tires to write Emma a letter, but he cannot think of what to say. He goes through a box of old letters in hopes of remembering what he loved about Emma. He finally writes her a letter saying she would be better off without him and packs it in a box of fruit, their usual means of communicating.

When she gets the letter, she runs to the attic to read it and immediately thinks of suicide when she learns of his departure. Just as she is about to throw herself out the window, she is called to dinner. At dinner, she passes out and a new bout of illness begins. She is in a state of illness for forty-three days. Charles gives up his practice to sit by her, and he lets Felicite take over rule of the house. Finally...