Final answer:
2) Madame Ratignolle is jealous. The reader can infer that Madame Ratignolle is jealous from her request to Robert.
Step-by-step explanation:
The inference that a reader can make from Madame Ratignolle's request to Robert is that Madame Ratignolle is jealous. In the novel, Madame Ratignolle asks Robert to simply say goodbye to Mrs. Pontellier without mentioning that they will meet again. This implies that Madame Ratignolle may feel threatened by the close friendship between Robert and Mrs. Pontellier and wants to put some distance between them.