Summary

Delia travelled back to Amalia’s apartment building. She knocked on Signora De Riso’s door, bringing the widow cherries from a nearby garden. Delia invited Signora De Riso to Amalia’s apartment, which she referred to as her own. Signora De Riso complimented Delia’s blue dress, saying Amalia had shown it to her when she bought the gift. She said that Caserta had bought the new clothes for Amalia to give to Delia in exchange for all of Amalia’s old lingerie.

Signora De Riso brought up the topic of Delia’s father. She said he made her suspicious; he had asked her several times to warn him if Amalia was acting reckless. Delia gathered that her father had charmed Amalia’s neighbor and made her think well of him. Delia remembered how her father would instruct Amalia not to laugh. If...