"She heard the barking of an old dog that was chained to he sycamore tree. The spurs of the cavalry officer clanged as he walked across the porch. There was the hum of bees, and the musky odor of pinks filled the air."

"She heard the barking of an old dog that was chained to he sycamore tree. The spurs of the cavalry officer clanged as he walked across the porch. There was the hum of bees, and the musky odor of pinks filled the air." - page 128

As Mrs. Pontellier swam out into the sea she began thinking about everything all at once as she got farther and farther away from the shore and as she began tiring from swimming. She maybe refers to the old dog on a leech chained to a tree as her in her life she lived that she did not want. Always having to keep to herself, and the officer being someone she possibly being the doctor that she could have confided everything in. But then she hears humming bee's through all the craziness and musky calming scent, where she has found happiness and peace.