Summary

The chapter “Swans on the lake” begins with Anita walking around the town, feeling ecstatic about her new assignment. Back at the house, Adéle searches for a piece of paper to write a farewell note on, now that she has made love to Adam. For the first time, she ventures into Anita’s office, where she discovers the manuscript titled “The Melody of Adéle.” As she leaves the house, Adam urges her to take some of his paintings, which he now displays, but she leaves without taking them. Later that day, Anita takes Laura to see the swans at a nearby lake. Just as Anita is considering that she should lighten Adéle’s housework load in the future, she sees Adéle reading the manuscript on the edge of the lake. Anita briefly angrily shouts at...