Lise mourns the loss of her dear friend Gabriel, expressing a deep melancholy that reflects a formative bond between them. Accompanied by her grieving mother, Madame des Forcils, Lise reminisces about Gabriel, revealing her profound sense of loss and innocence. The story then shifts to introduce Serge Ormanoff, a powerful and domineering figure who wishes to marry Lise, seeing her as a young version of his late wife. This development introduces tension and conflict, laying the groundwork for Lise's emotional journey as she grapples with her impending marriage and the sacrifices entailed, raising questions about her happiness and autonomy within the confines of her new life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)