Chapter 8 Summary

David is feeling remorseful about the couple's role-playing games, and instead of walking with Catherine to the Palace Cafy for breakfast, he says he will meet her there. When she arrives, he is finishing his second absinthe. They discuss returning to the shore or driving to la Napoule. David observes that absinthe "tastes exactly like remorse. It has the true taste of it and yet it takes it away." Catherine insists she can turn into a girl again, although it's a "god damned bore." When she raises her voice, David tries to shush her. She insists that hysterics go along with being a girl, as well as scenes, false accusations and temper tantrums. When David questions why she is going up to the room, Catherine insists that she must because she is a woman. She thinks if she stayed a girl, at least...