Summary

In Chapter 49, Lila is in happy mood and Elena is not. She then surmises that Nino must have told her he'd be at Barano to lure her there to see him; she decides to visit him there the next day. The husbands show up, and Lila is unexpectedly affectionate while Pinuccia is still irritable. Elena wants to read what she thinks will impress Nino the most, but she's not sure what that may be. She's irritated how much work she has put into her education, and Lila has only to say one offhand remark about a play to entrance Nino. She notices that she's missing a book, and finds it in Lila's room.

In Chapter 50, Elena is confused about what she should do, and decides not to go to Barano, where the Sarratorre beach house is, but goes to their beach instead. Rino...