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Both Mr. Duffy and Mrs. Sinico are pleased with their new arrangement because they feel that they finally have someone to talk to with whom they connect emotionally and intellectually. Their discussions revolve around their similar interests including books, political theories, their opinions on Dublin, and music. For example, Mr. Duffy summarizes his brief stint as a member of the Irish Socialist Party before he became too frustrated with the unorganized and timorous people who ran the meetings. It is here that he expresses his belief that Dubliners are not cut out for a social revolution. Mrs. Sinico listens to Mr. Duffy’s rants and becomes his “confessor”; she also encourages him to write. In return, Mrs. Sinico tells Mr. Duffy about her own, often unhappy, life. Their bond strengthens with each meeting to such a degree that Mr. Duffy feels that his and Mrs. Sinico’s thoughts have become “entangled.” Such sharing gradually softens Mr. Duffy’s hard character.
Mr. Duffy and Mrs. Sinico meet often, usually alone. As they get to know each other better and better, their topics of conversation become increasingly personal. They often meet in the evenings and Mr. Duffy notes that Mrs. Sinico usually resists the temptation to turn on additional lights once it becomes dark. This creates an intimate ambiance as the two of them sit sheltered away in the darkness. On one such night, the familiar space causes Mr. Duffy to self-reflect and he goes on a lengthy, impassioned speech about loneliness and human nature. Mr. Duffy has an out-of-body experience as he speaks and he surprises himself at the personal nature of his musings.
However, in response to Mr. Duffy’s reflection on the soul’s incurable loneliness, Mrs. Sinico takes Mr. Duffy’s hand and places it on her cheek. Mrs. Sinico’s display of “unusual excitement” deeply bothers Mr. Duffy. He feels Mrs. Sinico has misinterpreted his acts of companionship as sexual advances and he panics. In response, he decides to distance himself from the relationship and he does not visit her for a week. Afterwards, he writes to Mrs. Sinico and arranges a final meeting at a cake shop in Dublin, deliberately in a public space as opposed to Mrs. Sinico’s home. The pair then walks through the streets of Dublin for three hours in spite of the cold weather. Upon the conclusion of their walk, Mr. Duffy and Mrs. Sinico agree to end their relationship. However, Mrs. Sinico’s emotional presence at this meeting suggests she is less willing to say goodbye than Mr. Duffy is. Mr. Duffy is uncomfortable with her unstable emotional state and, fearing that she will collapse, he quickly leaves a trembling Mrs. Sinico at the tram. A few days later, Mr. Duffy receives a parcel containing the books and music that he had lent Mrs. Sinico.
