Summary

Enza prays and worries about her younger sister, Stella, as she fights a fever. The doctor comes and examines her, gives her some medicine to reduce the fever, and has a whispering chat with her parents. Stella tries to cheer herself up by recalling the children she knew who had been gravely ill and survived. The local Catholic priest comes and chants prayers through the night. But, Stella's condition worsens despite their efforts. When Enza sees her sister grow pale and listless, she bolts the house, runs down the street, and weeps loudly. Marco, her father, comes up to her, and they weep together. Giacomina, her mother, covers the child's emaciated body and weeps into her hair. Just as her sister passes, Enza shouts: "No!"

Ciro cleans the church, then notices Concetta Martocci sitting alone in the chapel. He sits...