Mike notices that his father is in one of his depressive moods, feeling as though he is a “failure in America” because he is still a house painter after 15 years of living in New York (206). When Herman complains, Katie tells him to face reality and get on with his life. Herman wants to visit a local businessman named Baruch Goldfarb and borrow $300 to set up a store of his own. Goldfarb previously embroiled Herman in a voting scheme that ended with Herman being violently assaulted. Herman visits Goldfarb, who promises to help him raise the money in exchange for Herman’s involvement in another scheme. Herman agrees and becomes more and more involved with Goldfarb, even though Katie remains suspicious.

Herman begins to work for a new house painting company, one owned by an associate of Goldfarb. He is quickly promoted to foreman and dedicates himself energetically to the role. One day, his new boss, Zechariah Cohen, offers to sell Herman a house in an up-and-coming part of the city. Katie is unimpressed with the “little dismal settlement” on offer (216), as well as the gaudy and pretentious home in which Zechariah Cohen lives. She worries that she will be too far from her friends and her community in the suburbs.