The family sat in silence after that. Luna could still hear the men shouting but soon the noise faded into the general din of the street. They edged slowly towards the cathedral. As they drew closer, she heard singing and strained her head out to see a group of the preacher’s boys chanting hymns with crosses in their hands, calling for alms for the poor. She looked at Pippo, who had pushed closer against Mamma Lucrezia. Soon he would be one of those white-robed boys. She wished their father had refused the suggestion he join. The fanciulli processed through the streets to the cathedral in a big messy group and Pippo was still so little he might get lost, or worse, get bumped and fall. The tolling of the cathedral’s single bell began and the familiar sound brought some ease to the group within the carriage.

Papa was waiting on the street and helped Mamma Lucrezia from the carriage. Luna clambered down after her brother and sister, using her walking stick as support. The throng of parishioners was large and crowded through the doors with little order or gentility. As they entered, Papa tried to create some distance from the fray by stretching out his arms. Every corner was packed and the space beneath the magnificent domed arches felt as hot as the kitchen during baking. So many people standing close together made it smell sour too.

Luna followed her father to a space where they could stand. She let her eyes wander across the cobbled collection of strangers’ faces; some ladies’ heads framed by elegant silk hoods, others wearing simple kerchiefs. She saw men as familiar as the visitors her father welcomed, whilst others reminded her of the factory workers she’d known in her younger years. Close to the pulpit, she noticed the rows of chairs set aside for the most important parishioners. A friendly hum of chatter surrounded them as people moved through and greeted one another. Mamma Lucrezia clasped her hands in prayer and Papa did the same, leaning his head against his wife’s, and Luna was momentarily taken aback by their unusual display of intimacy. She turned the other way.