"And what of those born to lean times, good mother? There are plenty who have known naught but a kind of sunless wasting."

He may be questioning her, but his tone is perfectly respectful--a wise tactic, coming from a culture of indomitable nonnas who would not hesitate to slap some decency into you no matter your age if they thought you needed it. They all had a vein of iron running through them beneath a sunny and generous disposition... this one clearly just wore it on the outside.