26«Do you need anything else?» Messer Arturo asked his wife, without hiding his impatience.
She placed the plate on the small beside table.
«Take it away. Then help me to reorganize my pillow. I want to lie down».
«It is bad for you to lie down all the time. If you keep your shoulders up, you will breathe better. And you will have fewer coughing fits».
«I am tired. I want to sleep».
Arturo helped her to sit, supporting her delicate chest as he moved the pillow away from the wall and placed it flat on the bed, so that she could lie down with her head resting upon it.
«Take the bowl away. The smell makes me nauseous».
Arturo did not reply. From the little table he lifted the plate containing the leftovers of cabbage and onion and half of the slice of stale bread that his wife had dipp
