The Rubio family continues to assimilate, and Richard doesn’t like the way he sees his parents changing. In their new house, Consuelo begins to assert herself, objecting to Juan Rubio’s treatment of the children and refusing to maintain the housekeeping. Juan Rubio fades, getting old before his time, and starts having affairs again. Richard blames himself:

Richard saw clearly what he had helped to create, and sought to repair the damage, but it was too late. [...] To be just, no one could be blamed, for the transition from the culture of the old world to that of the new should never have been attempted in one generation (135).

Juan Rubio’s wounded pride takes him to the door of Macedonia, the wife of his friend Cirilo. She seems to have expected Juan Rubio, and resignedly accepts sex with him.

Meanwhile, Richard learns that his old friend Mary is going to be moving to Chicago with her family. Before she goes, she solemnly tells him that she’s going to marry him. Amused, Richard teases her, but she’s dead serious: “I’ll write to you, and you’re going to answer. When it’s time, I’ll tell you to come for me” (137).