Edna finds herself unable to concentrate on her art on gloomy days, so she spends such days visiting the friends she made at Grand Isle. When Edna’s father was visiting, they went together to a race where they chatted with Alcée Arobin and Mrs. Highcamp. One day, the two decide to extend to Edna their invitation to go to another race together. Alcée finds himself enamored with Edna and escorts her home after dinner with the Highcamps. He makes many efforts to convince Edna to go to the track with him again. Edna allows him to come into the house, but only for a few minutes. Afterward, Arobin leaves she feels like she should have asked him to stay for longer. Edna goes to bed but she doesn’t sleep well. Finally, she wakes up, feeling guilty and anxious, because she had forgotten to write to Léonce that day.

After a couple of days, Alcée picks Edna up to attend the races again but this time Mrs. Highcamp is not with him. When they come back from the track, Edna and Arobin eat dinner together. Arobin notices that Edna keeps her sensuality locked inside of her.