Arobin embarrasses Edna with an emotional letter of apology for upsetting her the night before, and this irritates her: The next day she feels as though she'd taken the kiss on her hand too seriously. She writes a deliberately light and playful note in response. After that, they see each nearly every day.
Edna visits Mademoiselle Reisz, whose music always soothes her. She reveals her plan to move out of Léonce's house and into a tiny rental house nearby, which she can afford due to her racetrack winnings and sales of her drawings, and her desire to give an elaborate dinner party before moving from her old house. Reading Robert's latest letter, Edna is ecstatic to learn that he is returning soon. In response to Mademoiselle Reisz's questioning, Edna reveals that she loves Robert simply because she does, and that when he is back she will do nothing more than be happy.
Ironically, she is so happy at the news of his return that she sends a box of bonbons to her children and writes a cheerful, spirited note to Léonce in which she tells him of her plans to move out.
