Summary

Ingrid begins her letter to Gil in Chapter 36 by recounting how the smell of George’s dismantled cot and Nan’s stale baby clothes pain her. Everything aggravates her, and she finds relief only in the sea or garden. Ingrid remembers the neighbours delivering various plants to the house for her to add to the garden. Gil starts another novel with no success, and Jonathan brings women Ingrid dislikes to the house for visits. When Gil sleeps in the writing room, Ingrid goes swimming. She begins swimming near Milkwood Farms and recalls how she nearly drowned while swimming towards Old Smoker Rock. As Ingrid swims, the tide overpowers her, holding her beneath the surface. When the sea finally releases her, Ingrid clings to Old Smoker, lacerating her knees and cheek in the process. A family camping nearby spots Ingrid climbing over the rocks naked...