Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

An elderly father divides his property among his children. Their duties include housing, feeding, and paying him, but the arrangement quickly fails.

Property Division Decision — The elderly father decides to divide his property among his children. Location: Fouan family property
Conditional Inheritance — The children are expected to house, feed, and pay their father annually. Location: Fouan family property
Failed Family Care — The children fail to perform their obligations adequately. Location: Family homes
Son Takes Control — One son gradually dispossesses his father of his remaining fortune. Location: Family property
Mouche Sisters Introduced — The two Mouche sisters are introduced as part of the family network. Characters: Lise, Françoise Location: Family countryside

The Mouche sisters become central to the family conflict. One sister has a child, becomes a rich heiress, and marries the child's father.

Child From First Sister — The first sister has a child by the same man who later marries her. Characters: Lise Location: Family countryside
Unexpected Inheritance — The first sister becomes a rich heiress. Characters: Lise Location: Family countryside
Marriage After Inheritance — She marries the man with whom she already has a child. Characters: Lise Location: Family countryside

Lise and Françoise confront each other in a field. The confrontation ends when Françoise is pushed onto a scythe and abandoned.

Field Confrontation — Lise and Françoise confront each other in a field. Characters: Lise, Françoise Location: A field
Push Toward Scythe — Lise pushes Françoise onto a scythe during the confrontation. Characters: Lise, Françoise Location: A field
Severe Wounding — Françoise suffers a severe injury from the scythe. Characters: Lise, Françoise Location: A field
Victim Abandoned — Lise and her husband abandon the wounded Françoise. Characters: Lise Location: A field

Françoise is taken to a house, but the severe injury cannot be overcome. She dies from the wound.

Wounded Woman Found — Françoise is found after being left severely wounded. Characters: Françoise Location: Near the field
Taken To Shelter — Françoise is taken to a house after the field injury. Characters: Françoise Location: A house
Injury Worsens — The severe wound remains fatal despite her removal to shelter. Characters: Françoise Location: A house
Françoise Dies — Françoise dies from the injury caused by the scythe. Characters: Françoise Location: A house

The elderly father is left without a home and wanders through rain and snow. The story closes on his complete social abandonment.

Father Left Outdoors — The elderly father is left to wander without family shelter. Location: Outdoors
Wandering Through Rain — The elderly father wanders through rain and snow. Location: Open countryside
Winter Exposure — The elderly father remains exposed to harsh weather. Location: Open countryside
No Place To Live — The elderly father ends up with nowhere to live. Location: Open countryside

Story Breakdown

Property Division — The elderly father distributes his property under conditions intended to secure his care.
- Inherited Land — The family property is divided among the children.
- Care Obligations — The children must provide food, housing, and annual payments.
Failed Family Duty — The promised support collapses as the children neglect their responsibilities.
- Poor Treatment — The children do not care for their father adequately.
- Gradual Dispossession — One son takes increasing control of the father's remaining fortune.
Sisterly Background — The Mouche sisters are connected through family ties and changing wealth.
- Shared Family — Lise and Françoise are identified as sisters.
- Heiress Marriage — Lise becomes a rich heiress and marries the father of her child.
Field Confrontation — A dispute between the sisters turns into physical violence.
- Face To Face — Lise and Françoise confront one another in a field.
- Scythe Attack — Lise pushes Françoise onto a scythe.
Fatal Abandonment — The injured Françoise is left behind and later dies.
- Left Wounded — Lise and her husband abandon Françoise after the injury.
- Death Indoors — Françoise is taken to a house but dies from the wound.
Homeless Wandering — The elderly father ends the story exposed to the elements and without a home.
- Rain And Snow — He wanders through rain and snow.
- Final Isolation — He is left with nowhere to live.