In this short story, the main character Elisa is a woman who has a creative potential, as well as strength and persistence, but she never gets a chance to put them to good use. She craves an opportunity to realize her potential, but there is none. All she ever does are chores and housework, so she invests all her creativity into nurturing her chrysanthemums. The stranger is quite an intriguing figure for her - if nothing else, because he is different from her husband. He inspires her.
