After dinner one Saturday night, the vacationers attend an impromptu children’s musical recital, and the adults dance to Madame Ratignolle’s piano playing. Robert tells Edna that Mademoiselle Reisz will perform a piece at Edna’s request. Although Mademoiselle Reisz is generally bad-tempered and unwilling to freely display her talents, she agrees to perform because she likes Edna (yet dislikes all the other guests). Edna is deeply shaken by Mademoiselle Reisz’s performance, experiencing viscerally the emotions of the piece. Mademoiselle Reisz is pleased by Edna’s involved, tearful response. Then, at Robert’s suggestion, everyone sets out for a late-night swim.
In Chapter X, as the group makes its way to the beach, Edna reflects that Robert seems to be avoiding her lately. At the beach, Edna truly swims for the first time, rather than splashing in the shallows. After her ambitious swim, during which she goes farther from shore than she feels is safe, she abruptly leaves for her cottage. Robert accompanies her and sits on the porch, while she settles in the porch hammock. They feel the first stirrings of desire for each other.
In Chapter XI, Edna refuses to leave the hammock and join Léonce inside the cottage at his return, insisting that she is comfortable in the hammock. Although initially irritated, he handles the situation calmly by joining her on the porch. When she goes inside to sleep, just before dawn, Léonce remains on the porch to finish his cigar.
