The innkeeper, Lee, and his young bride, Little Flower, are in the middle of a shopping expedition. They are interrupted by the arrival of the wolf, who wants to stay at the inn and stay out of the way of the bride and Lee. The bride asks Lee if he has feelings for the other man, and Lee replies that he does, but that he is not sure if he is in love with another man or not. He then goes on to explain that the wolf's behavior will influence the "fundamental reality" of the novel.