At Breadalby, Hermione hosts a group of people, including Ursula and Gudrun. Hermione and Gerald talk about the nature of education: She argues that education exists purely as a way to gain knowledge. Rupert argues that knowledge is from the past. Another guest quotes from Ivan Turgenev’s novel Fathers and Sons, which she is reading. Hermione invites them to go for a walk. Everyone except Rupert accepts her invitation.

In the park, Hermione points out flowers, talks to a deer, and tells her guests about a rivalry between swans. After the walk, Hermione finds Rupert in his room, copying a drawing. He argues that one can learn more about culture from drawing than reading. This debate puts Hermione in a terrible mood.

Everyone dresses for dinner. Afterward, they smoke, and then Hermione organizes an impromptu ballet, urging the guests to dance. Gerald becomes attracted to Gudrun during the dance, and Rupert dances apart from the others, which upsets Hermione. Afterward, Hermione and Ursula talk in Hermione’s bedroom; Ursula becomes uncomfortable and leaves.

When the men have retired to their bedrooms, Gerald asks Rupert about Gudrun and Ursula. Rupert explains that they are teachers and that Gudrun is an artist who travels and knows his London friends.