Miss Hilton's funeral is swift and private, which sharply contrasts with the extravagant funeral of Miss Ricaud, a resident in the more upscale area of Miguel Street. The neighbors had limited knowledge of Miss Hilton, as she seldom ventured outside her locked home, making it difficult for them to grieve her passing.

Nobody in the street knew Miss Hilton. While she lived, her front gate was always padlocked and no one ever saw her leave or saw anybody go in. So even if you wanted to, you couldn’t feel sorry and say that you missed Miss Hilton.

After Miss Hilton's funeral, the man and woman responsible for the arrangements return to her house, which is characterized by shades of gray and green. There, they set fire to mattresses, pillows, sheets, and blankets in a bonfire. They open all the windows and put up a "FOR SALE" sign on a mango tree, indicating their intent to sell the property.

New residents, presumably a married white couple, move in. The woman is well-dressed and attractive, while her husband, Toni, is often described as unattractive and frequently inebriated. Additionally, Toni owns a ferocious dog.

Concerns mount as the neighbors witness disturbances in the household, including loud arguments, shouting, and the woman's cries for help. The neighborhood's initial curiosity turns to worry for the woman's safety.

Amid the escalating situation, the wife, Mrs. Hereira, seeks refuge at the narrator's house. She reveals that her husband has become violent and has threatened her life. The narrator's mother offers help and asks how the woman could endure such disrespect. She suggests involving the police, though Mrs. Hereira defends her husband and hesitates due to concerns about scandal.

The neighbors begin to speculate about Mrs. Hereira's history and her association with Toni. They learn she was previously married to a doctor named Henry Christiani, who had publicly disowned her. Mrs. Hereira explains her dissatisfaction with Henry but contemplates returning to him due to her fear that Toni might kill her.

One morning Mrs Hereira came over and said, very calmly, ‘I have decided to leave Toni.’

...My mother said, ‘What happen now?’

Mrs Hereira said, ‘Nothing. Last night he made the dog jump at me. He didn’t look as if he knew what he was doing. He didn’t laugh or anything. I think he is going mad, and if I don’t get out I think he will kill me.’

Ultimately, Mrs. Hereira reunites with Henry, while Toni's behavior worsens as he descends into alcoholism and neglects his dog. He terrorizes the neighborhood, but even his dog eventually turns against him. Once feared, Toni becomes a pitiful figure, and the neighborhood is relieved when he vanishes from Miguel Street.