Summary

Elena gives in and asks Alfonso and Marisa about Nino. Marisa reports that Nino had gone through "a long period of madness," the cause of which nobody knew, but eventually he had come through it and started studying again. Elena is glad that he is seemingly back on track. She devotes herself even more to her duties. Occasionally she sees the girls from the neighborhood, and each person has their own tale of difficulty. Ada, who has recently come to hate Lila but feels sympathy for Stefano, tells her that Antonio was discharged early from the military because of a nervous breakdown. She sees him soon after, thin and nervous, and exchanges small talk with him. Elena takes regular walks with him. They meet with Pasquale and Enzo, who also did military service. Enzo lost his father while he was away, and Pasquale's...