How did the narrator feel after hearing the woman's story about her love for the elm tree?

The narrator felt shocked and unsettled after hearing the woman's story about her love for the elm tree.

After hearing the woman's story about her love for the elm tree, the narrator felt as if he had been slapped, indicating a sense of shock and disbelief. The story gave him the creeps, making him want to leave the situation and never return. This reaction suggests that the narrator was deeply unsettled by the woman's confession and the implications of her feelings towards the tree.