Chapter 4 Summary

Jones, the superintendent, watches Lutie walk down the street to Junto's. He lusts after her and wishes she were wearing something less full than that coat so he can better see her figure. "She made him more aware of his loneliness that ate into him day and night." Jones has lived a lonely life. All of his jobs have been lonely. He was in the Navy, worked as a night watchman, and is now superintendent. The night watchman job was the loneliest of all.

While Jones is lost in his thoughts, Mrs. Hedge's tells him, "Ain't no point in you lickin' your chops, dearie. There's others who are interested." Jones strongly dislikes Mrs. Hedges. She is always sitting in that window. Once when he was interested in the young women in Mrs. Hedges apartment, he softly implied he would like to come in...