In the opening of the chapter, the narrator describes the city in the spring. It is a time of contradiction, and everything is softened by rain. Joe is seen every day in front of his window, crying. Violet carefully launders his handkerchiefs that he uses to dry his tears. The narrator predicts that Violet will one day put away the handkerchiefs and light her husband on fire. After watching Joe for years, the narrator is certain that he is not to be trusted. Despite his friendly demeanor, he wears his hat at a slant. The narrator distrusts Joe’s easy mannerisms with women and predicts that he will soon take up gambling.

The rest of the chapter is told in Joe’s voice. He shares more of his history with Dorcas, including the days leading up to her murder. Joe was not interested in bragging about his affair. He was only interested in Dorcas. When he first met her in the apartment, he was overtaken. She represented a new version of himself, and he had been through many versions already. He knew people thought he treated Violet badly, but he was never able to get close to her or anyone since Victory, a boy he was raised with like a brother.