Question

What secret about the brothers, does the nurse tell the narrator? 

Answer 1

The nurse tells them that Nicola and Jacopo are not just normal working boys; they are also having a hard time taking care of their sick sister Lucia. She says that their parents died in the war and that their house was destroyed. Even though it's been hard, the boys have been working nonstop at different small jobs to raise money for Lucia's treatment for tuberculosis of the spine. They don't talk about their problems and are very strong and loyal for doing this.