Where the character known as "Fiddler" appears back on Earth, trying to explain to a woman that he was on another planet for several years, and she accuses him of selling the violin and spending it all on nefarious self-indulgences.
Was this merely a dream that he had? That would be my first inclination, but it being a dream wasn't really spelled out very well, if that is indeed the case.
I regard this as his dream/vision/thoughts/hallucination.
But it does not matter which of those it might be, but what it delivers:
A very symbolic view of the fiddler's psyche, his motivations (stealing and all the rest he does) and his fears.
This was maybe the shortest, yet effective, portrayal of The Fear Of Being Ordinary in a visionary youth and the rejection/doubt he still gets.
It explains him as not cocky, but deeply insecure of being without value in a cold world (snow covered scenery)