While the exact location isn't explicitly stated, the story provides several clues:
* Geography: The valley is described as being "cut off from the rest of the world" and surrounded by "high, bare hills."
* Farming: Elisa, the protagonist, is a skilled gardener who grows chrysanthemums, suggesting a rural, agricultural setting.
* Weather: The story takes place in autumn, with mentions of cold winds and the scent of woodsmoke.
* Transportation: Elisa's husband Henry drives her a few miles to a nearby town to purchase a pair of work gloves, indicating a relatively isolated community.
Overall, the setting evokes a sense of isolation and limited opportunity, which contributes to the story's themes of loneliness, ambition, and the desire for fulfillment.