Regret (for Advanced Levels C1-C2)

Regret is one of Kate Chopin’s most moving and thought-provoking short stories. First published in 1894, it explores themes of independence, loneliness, motherhood, love, and the unexpected emotions that can emerge later in life. Although the story is simple in its events, it offers a profound psychological portrait of a woman who discovers a hidden part of herself through an experience she never expected.

The story follows Mamzelle Aurélie, a strong and independent woman who has spent her entire life managing her farm alone. She has never married, never had children, and has always believed that she made the right choice. Her quiet and carefully ordered world is suddenly interrupted when her neighbor is forced to leave her four young children in Aurélie’s care for two weeks. At first, the unexpected responsibility seems overwhelming. However, as the days pass, the children gradually transform not only the atmosphere of her home but also the way she understands herself and the life she has lived.

Unlike many stories that rely on dramatic action or unexpected twists, Regret draws its power from ordinary moments and subtle emotional changes. Kate Chopin carefully reveals how small daily experiences can reshape a person’s heart, leading readers toward a quiet yet unforgettable ending. The story encourages us to reflect on the choices we make, the opportunities we leave behind, and the emotions we sometimes recognize only when it is too late.

This edition has been carefully rewritten for advanced English learners (CEFR C1 level). The original plot, characters, setting, and emotional impact have been faithfully preserved, while the language has been adapted to make the story more accessible to modern readers. Some outdated vocabulary and nineteenth-century expressions have been replaced with natural contemporary English, and long, complex sentences have been rewritten for greater clarity and readability. The result is a version that remains true to Kate Chopin’s literary style while offering a smoother and more engaging reading experience for learners.

As you read, pay attention not only to the events of the story but also to the gradual transformation of Mamzelle Aurélie. Her journey reminds us that even the most independent people may discover unexpected longings, and that life sometimes reveals its deepest truths in the quietest moments.

This story was rewritten by LearnEnglish-new.com for English learners. The story is in the public domain, so it is free from copyright. Enjoy reading and improve your English skills!

Regret

By Kate Chopin

Contents

Part One – Unexpected Guests

Part Two – The Silence After

Vocabulary

Comprehension Questions

Grammar Exercises

Part One

Unexpected Guests

Mamzelle Aurélie was a woman of fifty who had built her life on independence. She was tall and strong, with weather-reddened cheeks, determined eyes, and thick hair that was slowly turning from brown to gray. Around her farm she dressed more for work than appearance, wearing a man’s broad-brimmed hat beneath the blazing Louisiana sun, an old blue military overcoat when winter winds swept across the fields, and heavy boots that carried her confidently through mud and pasture alike.

There was nothing delicate about her. She managed every corner of her property with remarkable energy, giving orders to the workers, watching over the crops, caring for the livestock, and protecting the chickens from the hawks that circled overhead with her well-used gun. Her farm was orderly because she expected discipline—from animals, workers, and herself.

Marriage had never occupied an important place in her thoughts. When she was twenty, a respectable young man had asked her to become his wife. She had refused him without hesitation, believing that she had no desire for such a life. As the years passed, she never questioned that decision. At fifty, she still believed she had escaped a future that would only have restricted her freedom.

Her world was small but complete. Besides the people who worked on her land, she shared her days with her faithful dog, Ponto, a few cows, several chickens, two sturdy mules, and the quiet certainty of her religious faith. She asked for little more from life.

That peaceful routine ended on a bright summer morning.

Standing on the wide front gallery of her farmhouse, Mamzelle Aurélie suddenly found herself staring at four small children who seemed to have appeared from nowhere. They clustered together uncertainly in the narrow strip of shade, blinking against the fierce white sunlight that covered the yard. Chickens wandered freely across the porch, scratching at the ground below the steps, while the scent of pink flowers drifted gently through the warm air. Beyond the fields came the distant laughter of the workers picking cotton.

Only moments earlier, their mother, Odile, had arrived in desperate haste.

She carried little Lodie in her arms while pulling young Ti Nomme by the hand. Behind them walked Marcline and Marclette, moving slowly, confused by the sudden journey. Odile’s face was swollen from weeping, and every movement betrayed her anxiety.

Her own mother had fallen dangerously ill in a neighboring parish. A messenger had brought the terrible news that morning, and there was no time to lose. Her husband was away in Texas, far beyond her reach, leaving her with no one else to trust. Valsin already waited outside with the mule cart that would take her to the railway station.

Without allowing Mamzelle Aurélie an opportunity to protest, Odile spoke rapidly.

“There is no other choice. Please keep them until I return. I would never ask if I had anyone else. Be firm with them if they misbehave. I scarcely know what I am doing. Lon is away, the children cannot travel with me, and I may not even find my poor mother alive.”

The last words broke whatever composure she still possessed.

She kissed each child hurriedly, embraced little Lodie one final time, climbed into the waiting cart, and was gone before Mamzelle Aurélie had fully understood what had happened.

Silence settled over the porch.

Four pairs of uncertain eyes looked toward their unwilling guardian.

Mamzelle Aurélie crossed her arms and examined each child with the same practical attention she might have given to a new team of mules.

Marcline struggled bravely beneath the weight of little Lodie.

Marclette tried to hide her tears but failed.

Ti Nomme looked ready to escape at the first opportunity.

For several long moments Mamzelle Aurélie considered the unexpected responsibility that had landed at her doorstep. She disliked disorder, disliked interruptions, and disliked having decisions forced upon her. Yet duty, as she understood it, allowed no room for refusal.

She sighed quietly.

“First,” she said to herself, “they must eat.”

Fortunately, that task proved easy enough. Her pantry contained more than enough food for unexpected visitors.

Unfortunately, feeding children turned out to be the simplest part of caring for them.

Within hours she discovered that children demanded endless attention.

Marclette burst into tears whenever she was addressed in a firm voice.

Ti Nomme wandered wherever curiosity carried him, touching everything within reach. Before long he had gathered nearly every perfect gardenia and pink blossom from Mamzelle Aurélie’s carefully tended flower beds. Instead of admiring them, he pulled the flowers apart with great concentration, examining their petals as though conducting a scientific investigation.

Marcline watched him with complete resignation.

“You can’t just tell him to stop,” she explained seriously. “Mama ties him to a chair whenever he’s bad.”

Mamzelle Aurélie doubted such a method, but after Ti Nomme disappeared for the third time that afternoon, she reluctantly seated him in a large wooden chair and tied him securely with a length of cloth.

The punishment failed completely.

The warm afternoon breeze soon lulled the little boy to sleep, and he awoke cheerful, refreshed, and entirely without regret.

That evening Mamzelle Aurélie believed the day’s greatest difficulties had ended.

She pointed firmly toward the bedrooms.

“Off to bed.”

The children remained exactly where they stood.

None of them moved.

Only then did she discover how many invisible rituals belonged to childhood.

The little white nightgowns had to be taken carefully from the pillowcase in which Odile had packed them.

A basin of warm water had to be brought into the middle of the room so that dusty little feet could be washed before sleep.

Hair needed brushing.

Buttons had to be fastened.

Blankets had to be tucked around tiny shoulders.

Even after all that, sleep refused to come.

Marcline and Marclette laughed at the astonishing idea that Ti Nomme might fall asleep without hearing stories about the Croque-mitaine or the mysterious Loup-garou.

Little Lodie refused to close her eyes until someone held her gently, rocking her while singing softly.

Mamzelle Aurélie stared at the children in disbelief.

Running a plantation suddenly seemed easier than preparing four youngsters for bed.

The following morning she confessed her exhaustion to Aunt Ruby, her experienced cook.

“I would rather manage twelve plantations than four children,” she declared. “Children are exhausting beyond belief.”

Aunt Ruby smiled knowingly.

“I expected as much, Mamzelle Aurélie. Raising children isn’t something people simply know. Didn’t you notice yesterday that little one was playing with your basket of keys? Everybody knows children who play with keys grow up stubborn. And you surely know they shouldn’t stare into mirrors too often while they’re cutting new teeth.”

Mamzelle Aurélie smiled despite herself.

She had never imagined that motherhood contained so many mysterious rules.

Nor had she imagined how much she still had to learn.

---

Part Two

The Silence After

The days that followed settled into a rhythm Mamzelle Aurélie had never expected to enjoy.

Each morning began before sunrise. While the farm slowly awakened, the children filled the quiet house with voices, questions, laughter, and occasional quarrels. Their presence interrupted every task she attempted, yet somehow the interruptions gradually became part of the day itself.

She no longer felt irritated each time Ti Nomme disappeared.

Instead, she learned where to look for him.

If he was not in the garden collecting insects or flowers, he was probably in the barn watching the farmhands sharpen their tools or following Ponto across the fields. His endless curiosity often led him into trouble, but it also brought a lively energy that seemed impossible to resist.

Marclette remained as gentle and sensitive as ever. A harsh word could still fill her eyes with tears, so Mamzelle Aurélie found herself speaking more softly than she ever had before. It surprised her that kindness often achieved more than authority.

Marcline quietly assumed responsibilities far beyond her years. She watched over her younger brother and sisters whenever she could, trying to imitate the patient example her mother had set. Sometimes Mamzelle Aurélie noticed the little girl folding clothes, comforting Lodie, or inventing games to keep Ti Nomme occupied.

Little Lodie demanded the most attention.

Her tiny hands reached instinctively for Mamzelle Aurélie whenever she felt frightened or tired. At first, the older woman accepted the child’s affection awkwardly, uncertain how to respond. She had never grown accustomed to embraces or spontaneous displays of love.

Gradually, however, those small arms around her neck no longer felt unfamiliar.

Ti Nomme’s sticky fingers forced her to search through old cupboards until she found several white aprons she had not worn in years. Torn dresses needed mending. Missing buttons had to be replaced. The neglected sewing basket was brought down from the highest shelf and soon became one of the busiest objects in the house.

The constant laughter, crying, footsteps, and chatter that had once seemed unbearable slowly blended into the natural music of daily life.

Even the nights changed.

During the first evenings, Mamzelle Aurélie had slept poorly with little Lodie lying beside her, the child’s warm body pressing close and her gentle breathing brushing softly against her cheek.

Before long, she no longer noticed it.

The small weight beside her had become strangely comforting.

Without realizing it, Mamzelle Aurélie had adjusted not only her habits but also her heart.

The woman who had once declared that children were impossible now found herself smiling at their games, laughing at their innocent mistakes, and waiting for the familiar sound of their voices each morning.

The transformation happened so quietly that she never paused to recognize it.

Exactly two weeks after Odile’s hurried departure, Mamzelle Aurélie stood on the gallery as the sun began its slow descent toward the western fields.

Her eyes wandered absentmindedly toward the distant cattle shed.

There, rounding the bend in the road, appeared the familiar blue mule cart.

Valsin held the reins.

Beside him sat Odile.

Although distance concealed the details of her face, the brightness of her posture and eager movements announced the good news long before she arrived.

Her mother had survived.

Mamzelle Aurélie’s heart should have felt relieved.

Instead, an unexpected uneasiness settled over her.

Everything suddenly became urgent.

“Where is Ti Nomme?” she asked.

Someone pointed toward the shed, where the boy was busily sharpening the edge of his little knife on the grindstone under the careful eye of one of the farm workers.

“And the girls?”

Marcline and Marclette sat quietly in the corner of the gallery, cutting scraps of cloth into dresses for their homemade dolls.

Little Lodie was already safe in Mamzelle Aurélie’s arms.

The moment the child caught sight of the approaching cart, she clapped her hands and gave a delighted cry.

“Mama!”

Within minutes the peaceful farmyard burst into joyful confusion.

Odile embraced each child with tears of happiness.

Questions, laughter, kisses, and excited voices overlapped until no one could distinguish one conversation from another.

The children eagerly spoke all at once, each determined to describe every adventure of the past two weeks.

Mamzelle Aurélie stood nearby, smiling quietly while listening.

She said very little.

There seemed to be nothing that needed saying.

Soon the bundles were loaded into the cart.

One by one the children climbed aboard.

Ti Nomme waved enthusiastically.

Marclette smiled shyly.

Marcline thanked Mamzelle Aurélie with a seriousness beyond her years.

Little Lodie stretched both arms toward her for one last embrace before settling beside her mother.

The cart slowly rolled away.

The children continued waving until distance swallowed their small figures.

Their cheerful voices floated across the fields long after the cart itself had disappeared beyond the curve of the road.

Mamzelle Aurélie remained standing on the gallery.

She listened.

At first she could still hear the wheels creaking against the dusty road.

Then even that sound faded.

Only the evening remained.

The western sky glowed with deep shades of crimson, violet, and gold before surrendering to the cool blue shadows of approaching night. A soft purple mist drifted over the fields, gradually hiding the road from view.

Everything was still.

Far too still.

She turned and walked slowly back into the house.

The rooms were untidy.

Small shoes lay beneath chairs.

A forgotten doll rested near the fireplace.

Bits of cloth remained scattered across the table.

A wooden toy had been abandoned in the corner.

There was work waiting everywhere.

Ordinarily she would have begun restoring perfect order without delay.

Instead, she pulled out a chair and sat silently beside the table.

The gathering darkness crept slowly through the room, filling every empty corner where children’s laughter had echoed only hours before.

The silence no longer brought peace.

It pressed heavily upon her.

For a long time she gazed around the room without moving.

Only then did she understand what had changed.

It was not the house that felt empty.

It was her life.

Without thinking, she lowered her head onto her folded arms.

The tears came suddenly, irresistibly.

She wept with a force that startled even herself—not quietly or gracefully, but with deep, broken sobs that seemed to rise from the very depths of her soul.

For fifty years she had believed she had chosen the life best suited to her nature.

Now, in the unbearable silence left behind by four small children, she discovered a sorrow she had never imagined she could feel.

Beside her chair, faithful Ponto gently licked her motionless hand.

She never noticed.

-THE END-

Read the original story: americanliterature.com

Vocabulary

1. determined /dɪˈtɜːrmɪnd/ — having a strong mind and not changing your decision.

Example: Mamzelle Aurélie possessed a determined eye.

2. proposal /prəˈpəʊzl/ — an offer of marriage.

Example: At the age of twenty she had received a proposal, which she had promptly declined.

3. regret /rɪˈɡret/ — a feeling of sadness about something you did or did not do.

Example: At the age of fifty she had not yet lived to regret it.

4. contemplate /ˈkɒntəmpleɪt/ — to look at or think about something carefully.

Example: Mamzelle Aurélie stood upon her gallery, contemplating a small band of very small children.

5. bewildering /bɪˈwɪldərɪŋ/ — confusing or difficult to understand.

Example: Their coming was so unexpected and bewildering.

6. summon /ˈsʌmən/ — to officially call someone to come because they are needed.

Example: She had been summoned to a neighboring parish by the dangerous illness of her mother.

7. responsibility /rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/ — something that you are expected or required to take care of.

Example: Mamzelle Aurélie’s responsibilities began when Odile left the children with her.

8. emergency /ɪˈmɜːdʒənsi/ — a serious and unexpected situation that needs immediate attention.

Example: Her larder was amply provided against an emergency of this nature.

9. demand /dɪˈmɑːnd/ — to need or require something.

Example: Little children require and demand attentions that Mamzelle Aurélie had never expected.

10. peculiarity /pɪˌkjuːliˈærəti/ — an unusual habit or characteristic.

Example: It was a peculiarity of Marclette’s to cry when spoken to loudly.

11. botanical /bəˈtænɪkəl/ — relating to plants.

Example: Ti Nomme seemed interested in the botanical construction of the flowers.

12. affectionate /əˈfekʃənət/ — showing love and warmth toward other people.

Example: Ti Nomme’s kisses were the expressions of an affectionate nature.

13. exuberant /ɪɡˈzjuːbərənt/ — full of energy and excitement.

Example: His exuberant nature often filled the house with laughter.

14. accustomed /əˈkʌstəmd/ — familiar with something because of experience.

Example: She became accustomed to the laughing, the crying, and the chattering.

15. confidence /ˈkɒnfɪdəns/ — a private conversation or trust.

Example: Mamzelle Aurélie spoke to Aunt Ruby in confidence.

16. agitation /ˌædʒɪˈteɪʃən/ — a feeling of nervous excitement or worry.

Example: Odile’s unexpected return threw Mamzelle Aurélie into agitation.

17. familiar /fəˈmɪliə(r)/ — easy to recognize because you know it well.

Example: Lodie screamed with delight at the sight of the familiar blue cart.

18. solitary /ˈsɒlətri/ — alone; without other people.

Example: The evening shadows gathered around her solitary figure.

19. creeping /ˈkriːpɪŋ/ — moving slowly and quietly.

Example: The evening shadows were creeping around the room.

20. sobs /sɒbz/ — deep cries made while weeping.

Example: She cried with sobs that seemed to tear her very soul.

Comprehension Questions

1. Why had Mamzelle Aurélie never considered getting married, and how did she feel about that decision at the beginning of the story?

2. What unexpected event interrupted Mamzelle Aurélie’s peaceful life on the farm?

3. Why did Odile have no choice but to leave her four children with Mamzelle Aurélie?

4. What difficulties did Mamzelle Aurélie face during her first few days of looking after the children?

5. How did each of the four children have a different personality, and how did these differences affect Mamzelle Aurélie?

6. Why did Mamzelle Aurélie seek advice from Aunt Ruby, and what did she learn from her?

7. In what ways did Mamzelle Aurélie’s daily routine begin to change after spending time with the children?

8. What details in the story show that Mamzelle Aurélie gradually became emotionally attached to the children?

9. Why was Mamzelle Aurélie unexpectedly anxious when she saw Odile returning in the blue cart?

10. How did each child react when Odile came back to take them home?

11. What changes did Mamzelle Aurélie notice in her house after the children had left?

12. Why is the silence in the final scene more powerful than the noise created by the children earlier in the story?

13. What does Mamzelle Aurélie’s emotional breakdown at the end of the story reveal about her true feelings?

14. How does Kate Chopin show Mamzelle Aurélie’s transformation without directly telling the reader what she is thinking?

15. Why is the title “Regret” especially meaningful only after reading the final scene?

16. What central message do you think Kate Chopin wanted readers to understand about life, family, and the choices people make?

Grammar Exercises

Test Answers

B, 2. C, 3. B, 4. B, 5. B, 6. C, 7. A, 8. C, 9. A, 10. B, 11. B, 12. B, 13. C, 14. B, 15. B, 16. A

Read the original story: americanliterature.com

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