Before going to the island, Margo ………

In spite of being on speaking terms with the family once again, Margo still preferred to nurse her broken heart in private, so she began disappearing for long periods with only the dogs for company. Strangely, she waited until the sudden, fierce autumn storms had started before deciding that the ideal place for her to be alone was a small island situated in the bay, opposite the house, half a mile out.. One day, when her desire for solitude became unbearable, she borrowed my boat — without my permission
— piled the dogs into it and set off to the island to lie in the sun and contemplate love.