In ethan frome why didn't mattie immediately leave with Ethan when he came to pick her up

Mattie did not immediately leave with Ethan because she hadn't known Ethan was there to pick her up. Moreover, Ethan had hidden in the shadows, and thus, impossible for Mattie to have seen him.

Explanation:

Edith Wharton's "Ethan Frome," tells the story of the main character Ethan Frome and his struggles in his married life with his wife Zeena while at the same time falling for her cousin Mattie who had come to stay with them. The novel takes us through the "smash-up" that has been the 'hanging' cloud over Frome's life.

On the winter night when Ethan had gone to the village church to pick up his wife's cousin Mattie Silver, Ethan observed "the dark head under the cherry-coloured scarf" and silently hid in the shadows. After the dance was over and the people came out to go back home, Mattie did not immediately leave with Ethan. This was because Ethan had hidden in the corners and not visible to the people around him.  

i go to the store and buy some cheese,suddenly there was akward silence.   out of no where comes a ninja, and he takes an apple, and chokes the cashier, until he passes out.   the disapeared in a puff of smoke.   the cashier went to the doctor, and everything was fine again.   they all lived happily ever after without anymore ninjas.

the end

go to buy cheese= exposition

akaward silence= rising action

ninja chokes the cashier= climax

cashier goes to the doctor= falling action

they live happily ever after= resolution