The Guermantes way

Proust waits until page 263 of Swann's Way to embark the family on a walk down the Guermantes way.

Family walks around Combray so far have always followed the Méséglise way, which is also Swann's way, the shorter route that passes the grounds of Tansonville.

But on this day the family takes the much longer Guermantes way for their walk, which is the first time we learn about the Guermantes family, and how much they will come to mean in this book.