Summary

Marco Ravanelli maneuvers his old horse, Cipi, with the cart down the mountainside gingerly as he tries to avoid snow and ice. Once she's well removed from the convent area, Caterina Lazzari weeps over the loss of her sons. Marco stops the horse to ask her if she's injured or sick. She tells him of her widowhood, in addition to the loss of her sons. Marco says he has a large family of six children, boys and girls. Caterina shares some food with Marco as they stop to rest; she tells him she's always wanted a daughter, like his 10-year-old daughter Enza, whom Marco praises heartily. Caterina tells Marco the tragedies in her life have destroyed her faith.

Meanwhile, back at the Ravanelli home Enza washes clothes over a coal-fired stove, then hangs them out to dry. Enza's mother, Giacomina, makes...