‘It’s pointless to think about that,’ said Paolo, getting up. He had spent too much time with the two women, who only interested him because they had not yet paid him. ‘I must go,’ he went on. ‘People are waiting for me at my office. I’ll see you soon. When are you leaving?’

‘Tomorrow morning, at dawn.’

He went off. Grazia, who had not spoken a word during dinner, followed him out. Efes Maria sat astride his chair and began to read the New Sardinia. Among the three women, who were each eating a pear, a grave silence reigned. A heavy weight pressed on them. With primitive intuition, Porredda realised that the souls of her wild, uncultured guests and those of her civilized descendants had been bitten by the same evil. Greed for money.

X

The following day, just as on that long gone morning, Giovanna was the first to get up. Cold but sparkling, the winter dawn paled behind the curtained windows. Giovanna had gone to bed in a sad mood, more hardened than upset by Porredda’s remarks. Now she looked at the window and felt happy. It would be a fine day and therefore a good journey.

Her thoughts as she lay in bed the previous evening had wandered from Costantino to eternity to her dead baby and to many melancholy things.

‘I’m not really bad,’ she had told herself. ‘God can see what is in our hearts and he judges intentions more than actions. I loved Costantino and I’ve wept oceans of tears. Now I have no tears left. I don’t think he’ll ever come back or, if he does, it’ll be when we’re old and cannot weep any more. Meanwhile I’m flesh and blood like other women. I’m poor and it’s hard for me to resist temptation and sin. To escape one or the other I must take the place God has assigned me. Yes, Porredda, I am thinking of eternity, and it’s to save my soul that I’m doing what I’m doing. No, I’m not wicked, not really wicked.’

Bit by bit she had found solace in the thought that she was, at heart, good and generous. If, in the depths of her conscience, from whence arose the sadness that engulfed her, she did not really think that way, at least her mind told her she was right. Thus comforted she had fallen asleep.

Now the clear bright dawn beat against the windows of the guest room, and Giovanna thought of the sun and became cheerful again.

Her mother also awoke and looked out of the window. ‘It’s going to be a fine day,’ she said, pleased.