The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Book 9, Chapter 4 summary

What happens

1. La Esmeralda grows calmer within the church, hopes to recover Phœbus’s love, and struggles to overcome her aversion to Quasimodo.
2. Seeing Phœbus across the square, she begs Quasimodo to fetch him, and he waits outside the Gondelaurier house until night.
3. Quasimodo observes Phœbus courting Fleur-de-Lys, then intercepts him and asks him to visit the gypsy.
4. Phœbus refuses and kicks Quasimodo, who returns and tells la Esmeralda that he cannot find the captain.
5. Quasimodo avoids her but secretly supplies provisions and gifts; she chooses wilted flowers from a cracked glass vase over fresh ones.
6. One night, la Esmeralda discovers Quasimodo asleep outside her doorway.

In this chapter

What to notice

Quasimodo hides Phœbus’s refusal and accepts her anger. His care protects her feelings even at his own expense.

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