Dragon's Teeth by Eça de Queirós

IN returning to Luiza's house Juliana had followed the advice of Aunt Victoria.

"The bird has flown, my dear," the latter had said to her. "It is a pity, for you might have made a good sum out of the affair; but who could have guessed that the lover would go away? You can do nothing now but mourn your loss, for you won't be able to get so much as that" -- indicating the point of her nail -- "out of her."

"But I can show the letters to her husband, Aunt Victoria."

The old woman shrugged her shoulders.

"You will gain nothing by that. Suppose they separate; suppose he ill treats her or puts her in a convent; what do you gain by that? And if they make up you are left in the lurch, and you get nothing from either side. And this supposing things to turn out well; for it is not at all impossible that you should find yourself the richer by a good beating. " And she added, seeing the look of dismay on Juliana's countenance, "It would not be the first time such a thing has happened, my dear. A great many things take place in Lisbon that never find their way into the papers."

What she ought by all means to do, according to Aunt Victoria, was to return to the house. For what was there now left of the whole matter? Nothing but the fears of Donna Luiza; and of these it was that she must now avail herself.

"You return to the house," she continued, "and wait there the fulfilment of her promise to you. If she gives you the money, well and good; if she does not, you are there on the spot, and you can go picking up whatever Providence may chance to throw in your way."

Juliana hesitated. It would be hard to live under the same roof with her mistress without having continual disputes with her.

"I shall say no more," returned the old woman; "you will find out that I am right in the end."

"But I am afraid -- "

"Of what? " exclaimed Aunt Victoria. "She is not going to poison you. ‘Nothing venture, nothing have. ' Follow my advice if you like," she ended; "if not, settle the matter in your own way. What the deuce does it matter? You will see that I am right; and if you find it does not suit you to stay there, why, you can leave the house at any time."

Juliana made up her mind that she would go and see. By-and-by she discovered that Aunt Victoria sometimes had right on her side.

Luiza appeared resigned to circumstances. Sebastião had gone again to Almada, but she was determined that as soon as he returned she would go to his house some morning, throw herself at his feet, and confess to him everything, -- everything. She bore with Juliana, thinking it a question of a few days at the utmost, and never opened her lips to her. The proper course with Juliana was to pay her her wages and put her in the street. Until she could do this, there was nothing for it but to bear with her in silence. When Sebastião returned --

Meantime she avoided seeing her. She never called her. She never left her room in the morning without being certain that her bath was filled, and everything in readiness for her toilet. During the daytime she remained in her bedroom, reading, sewing, thinking of Jorge, and sometimes -- with hatred -- of Bazilio, desiring Sebastião's return, and preparing her confession beforehand.

Juliana came face to face with her one day in the hall, carrying a jug of water to her room.

"But, Senhora, why did you not call me? " she exclaimed, apparently shocked.

"I had nothing else to do," returned Luiza.

Juliana followed her to her bedroom, and closing the door behind her said, --

"Senhora, things cannot go on in this way. It seems as if you were afraid to look me in the face. I have come back to perform my duties as formerly. Of course, I expect the senhora to fulfil her promise, for I will not give up the letters without securing bread for my old age. What I said was on the spur of the moment, and I have asked pardon for it. I want to perform my duties while I am here. If the senhora is not willing," she ended curtly, "I will leave the house, and it may be the worse for every one."

"But -- " began Luiza, in confusion.