Dragon's Teeth by Eça de Queirós

ON the following day, at an early hour in the afternoon, Joanna, leaning back in an old willow arm-chair, was already sleeping the siesta. As she rose at five every morning, and sometimes even earlier, she enjoyed to the full this hour of rest. The blinds were closed to exclude the light, the pot on the fire sent forth its drowsy murmur, all the house seemed sunk in a silent stupor by the torrid heat, when Juliana entered the kitchen with an angry air, and throwing a bundle of soiled clothes on the floor, exclaimed, --

"May I be struck dead by lightning if the scandalous behavior in this house does not end by becoming public talk!"

Joanna awoke in terror.

"Whoever wants to have things done to suit them should see to it themselves! " cried Juliana, her eyes bloodshot with passion. "There is no need to be all day in the parlor gossiping with visitors!"

The cook shut the door in alarm.

"What is the matter, Senhora Juliana? What has happened? " she said.

"What has happened? Why, that she has been stung by a wasp! I am ready to burst with anger."

She spoke in shrill and strident accents.

"She avails herself of every pretext to scold," she continued; "I am in no mind to put up with her any longer; no! " And she stamped her foot furiously on the floor.

"But what has happened?"

"She said her collars were badly ironed, and then she began to talk a string of nonsense. I am tired of it now. I have had enough of it. Let her not provoke me any more! I shall leave the house, but I will tell her the reason to her face. Ever since men have been coming here she has behaved shamefully. When one begins an intrigue -- "

"Senhora Juliana, for the love of God! " exclaimed Joanna, putting her hands to her head. "If the mistress should hear you!"

"So much the better! I would say it to her face. I have had enough of it, and more than enough! " But all at once she was seized with a violent attack of faintness. She turned pale as death, and sank into a chair, her hands pressed to her heart, and her eyes turned up so that only the whites were visible.

Joanna shook her, and began to call her in a frightened voice, --

"Senhora Juliana! Juliana! Speak to me! " She sprinkled water on her face. "The Virgin help us! Are you better? Speak!"

Juliana gave a deep sigh of relief, and closed her eyes. She drew her breath slowly and painfully, as though completely exhausted.

"How do you feel? Do you want some broth? It is debility; that must be it."

"It is the heart," murmured Juliana.

"Of course; those fits of passion are killing her," said the cook to herself, as she prepared the broth, pale as Juliana herself. "One must put up with one's mistress," she said aloud. "You should take nourishing food, and not allow yourself to get excited."

Luiza, dressed in a white morning-gown, here opened the door and asked what was the cause of this noise.