Adam's Breed

One evening that June the Signora Rocca looked up from her sewing and said: "What a deplorable thing is pride, and how right I was when I warned the Bosellis not to send Gian-Luca to that heathenish Board School."

Rocca took off his spectacles and swore, beyond which he vouchsafed no comment, so his wife continued: "I am sorry for Gian-Luca, as a Christian that is my duty -- but as the English say, and it is a good saying, ‘Pride cometh before a fall. ' I do not see what he has to be proud of, considering his unfortunate birth; however, it is clear that he sets himself above us; does he ever come here to see us these days? He does not, he treats us as though we were dirt, he is getting too big for his breeches!"