The undertaker closed his eyes for a moment and then began to speak. His

voice was quiet, the voice he used to console the bereaved. "I raised my daughter

In the American fashion. I believe in America. America has made my fortune. I

Gave my daughter her freedom and yet taught her never to dishonor her family.

She found a 'boy friend,' not an Italian. She went to the movies with him. She

Stayed out late. But he never came to meet her parents. I accepted all this without

A protest, the fault is mine. Two months ago he took her for a drive. He had a

Masculine friend with him. They made her drink whiskey and then they tried to

Take advantage of her. She resisted. She kept her honor. They beat her. Like an

Animal. When I went to the hospital she had two black eyes. Her nose was broken.

Her jaw was shattered. They had to wire it together. She wept through her pain.

'Father, Father, why did they do it? Why did they do this to me?' And I wept."

Bonasera could not speak further, he was weeping now though his voice had not

Betrayed his emotion.

Don Corleone, as if against his will, made a gesture of sympathy and Bonasera

went on, his voice human with suffering. "Why did I weep? She was the light of

My life, an affectionate daughter. A beautiful girl. She trusted people and now she

will never trust them again. She will never be beautiful again." He was trembling,