"It depends on the rain which has been scarce," said Jeli. "We have had to kill even the lambs because there hasn't been enough feed for them. Over all of la Salonia there hasn't been three inches of grass."
"But that doesn't affect you. You always have your wages, good year or bad."
"Yes, that's so," said he. "But it disgusts me to give those poor creatures to the butcher."
"Do you remember when you came for the festa of Saint John, and were left without a padrone?"
"Yes, I remember."
"It was my father who got you a place here with massaro Neri."
"And why didn't you marry massaro Neri's son?"
"Because it was n't the will of God. My father has been unlucky," she continued, after a brief pause. "Since we came to Marineo, everything has gone ill with us. The beans, the corn, that piece of vineyard
