- Edna’s father, a retired colonel, comes to visit.
- He wants help in buying a wedding present for Janet, Edna’s sister.
- Edna is left in the position of entertaining him. One day the two go to the horse races.
- They meet up with Alcee Arobin, a bad boy who Robert cited earlier in the novel as a truly dangerous playboy.
- They have a good time at the races.
- When Doctor Mandelet comes to dinner, Edna is flushed and happy.
- The poor doctor can’t figure out the problem.
- He remains convinced it has something to do with another man, hoping to himself that it isn’t Alcee Arobin.