“No … he’s ugly…. He has big ears….”

“She’s turning down a match like that because his ears are big? It’s childish! Instead of jumping at the opportunity!”

She looked around indignant, piqued, and after a minute took her leave.

She cut back on her visits after that and in time, little by little, she stopped coming by altogether, having lost all respect for a girl who pays attention to a fiancé’s ears….

Try helping some people!

Caterina returned to her loom; somewhat listlessly, she began to embroider the frame intended for the large portrait of Marietta.

It didn’t shock her when she heard that Nenè was engaged to Professor Pavonetti. She didn’t complain that her days had returned to what they were before, and she found it natural that even signora Teta had ended up getting bored with her.

Since a year of mourning had passed and the autumn evenings were beautiful, to make Aunt Fifi happy she started going out with her father after dinner. They walked toward Sinibbio just to get some fresh air.

Next to her father, who kept silent, pushing along little pebbles with his cane, Caterina walked in the wide, deserted road, neither getting too bored nor enjoying herself, following her placid thoughts, looking back with regret on her sweet dream, dead like her mother, dead like Marietta, while time passes quickly and those who know how to live hurry on, never looking back.

Glossary

Glossary

barone: a title used to address male aristocrats and nobles

baronessa:a title used to address female aristocrats or the wives of aristocrats

case basse: low, street-level houses

cavaliere:a title of distinction generally conferred in one’s place of work

ciancianedda:in Sicilian, a small tinkling bell

civili:members of the “civilized” or upper class

comare:godmother; also an expression of affection or friendship used among equals in the lower classes

compare:godfather; also an expression of affection or friendship used among equals in the lower classes

consòlo:in Sicily and other parts of southern Italy, the three- to eight-day requisite mourning period during which visitors offered condolences in the home of the deceased

continente:Sicilians used the term il Continente to refer to continental Italy. Likewise, the term continentali referred to non-Sicilians, whether Italians or foreigners. Both underscored Sicily’s sense of isolation and suspicion of outsiders.

corredo: a woman’s trousseau consisting of hand-sewn, embroidered, and lace items, including delicate undergarments, bed linens, and table linens

destino: fate; destiny

don: a title of respect, generally used to address male professionals and landowners

donna:a title used to address wives of professionals and landowners

galantuomini: gentlemen property owners, usually referred to with the title, don

gna’: Sicilian form of address equivalent to signora or missus used when speaking to or about women of the lower classes

lira (plural lire): basic monetary unit of Italy used until 2002