Part Two, Chapters 5 and 6 Summary

Frederic is in retreat. He is spending a lot of time in Nogent getting to know Louise. In Frederic's absence, several strange things happen. First, Charles looks over some of Frederic's documents and learns more about the job with Dambreuse. He decides that he should take up Frederic's life - both his job and his relationship with Marie. He confronts Marie, tells her that she loves him and she laughs in his face. In the meanwhile, Louise tells Frederic that she is in love with him, asks him to marry her and he agrees. Word of their marriage reaches Charles and when Marie rejects him, he tells her that Frederic is getting married. Surprisingly, this upsets her. We discover, finally, that Marie is in love with Frederic, as she comes to this realization only in the pages...