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Later, guests begin to leave and Gabriel realizes through the bustle of people putting on their coats and calling for cabs that he does not know where Gretta is. Kate tells him that she is upstairs gathering her things and will be down in a few moments. While he waits for Gretta, Gabriel entertains his aunts, Mary Jane, and the rest of the guests that have not left yet by recounting a story about his grandfather’s horse, which forever walked in circles even when taken out of the mill where it worked. After finishing the anecdote and watching helplessly as Freddy, his mother, Mr. Browne, Kate, and Julia give a series of confusing and contradictory directions to a cab driver, Gabriel realizes that Gretta stands transfixed by the song that Mr. Bartell D’Arcy is singing in the drawing room. When the music stops, the rest of the party guests admonish D’Arcy for not singing during the party. D’Arcy explains that he did not sing before the large crowd because he has been ill, which triggers a lengthy discussion of the cold weather and its impact on people’s health. Gabriel notices that Gretta remains detached and thoughtful and does not participate in the conversation except to ask D’Arcy the name of the song he was just singing which he identifies as “The Lass of Aughrim.” The remaining guests say their goodbyes to Julia, Kate, and Mary Jane and set out into the snow to return to their homes or, in the case of Gabriel and Gretta, to their hotel.
Gabriel is enamored with and preoccupied by his wife’s mysterious mood and recalls their courtship as they walk from the house and catch a cab into Dublin. He becomes filled with love and lust for his wife and is eager to share his sentiments with her. However, Gabriel grows irritated by Gretta’s behavior soon after they arrive at the hotel. She does not seem to share his romantic inclinations, and in fact, she bursts into tears when he tries to ask her what is wrong. Gretta finally confesses that she has been thinking of the song from the party because a former lover had sung it to her in her youth in Galway. Gabriel is jealous and hurt that Gretta has been thinking of a former lover while Gabriel has been thinking lovingly of her. Despite his slighted feelings, Gabriel prompts Gretta to elaborate and she recounts the sad story of the boy, Michael Furey, who died after waiting outside of her window in the cold. Gretta later falls asleep but Gabriel remains awake, disturbed by Gretta’s new information. He curls up on the bed, contemplating his own mortality and the mortality of the people he loves. Seeing the snow at the window, he envisions it blanketing the graveyard where Michael Furey rests, as well as all of Ireland.
