He watches her standing on a stairway in the shadows listening to some music. He sees her skirt between the shadows that look dark. It looks as if she is painted in black and white and not as a person with emotions: "There was grace and mystery in her attitude as if she were a symbol of something. He asked himself what is a woman standing on the stairs in the shadow, listening to distant music, a symbol of"(240). We don't know what she feels or why did she stand in the shadows and not somewhere else. Even the title of the painting that Gabriel pictures in his mind when he sees Gretta, "Distant Music"(240), indicates that the name that he chooses to name the picture, that specific adjective, the first thing that comes to his mind, implies on the alienation and distortion that lies between them.
The party is over and the guests have left, Gabriel and Gretta share a cab back to the hotel. Here starts another step in Gabriel's learning process which will lead to his disillusionment and changing his point of view. We can see how the miscommunication happens here when Gabriel is concerned in his desires and thoughts and does not pay attention to Gretta. It is seen is that Gabriel is thinking only of himself, and of the moment they will be left alone. Nonetheless, Gretta is described only by her external description: "She was walking on before him so lightly and so erect that he longed to run after her Noiselessly-(243). Gabriel watches her walking, wishing to the moment they will be alone and make love, while nothing is mentioned about her emotional state; her thoughts, desires, and wishes. The narrative voice also exemplifies how Gabriel is focused on himself and his desires towards her, whereas Gretta's thoughts are hardly mentioned. The only description written about Gretta and her emotional state is: "She was looking out of the window and seemed tired" (245). Only after reading the story and looking back retroactively we can see what was going on in her mind, what she felt or thought.