The incident which takes place when La Belle Lisa and Marjolin are alone in the poultry cellars is illuminating on several levels. Marjolin is overcome with his feelings toward La Belle Lisa. However, because of his station in life, he is ignorant of middle-class mores concerning men and women. Instead, Marjolin treats La Belle Lisa the same way he treats Cadine, who appreciates and agrees to be taken in so brutish a manner whenever Marjolin so chooses. Also, this episode serves to illuminate La Belle Lisa's fear of her own sexuality In the narrative, Lisa experiences a kind of embarrassment when she recognizes that she might be slightly attracted to Marjolin. However, she convinces herself that her feelings toward the young man are strictly maternal in nature.
