Luiza insisted, however. It had been the “poor creature’s” dream ever since she had been in the house. No one could have an idea of what the poor woman’s room was like! The odor was sickening; the rats ran over her as she lay in bed at night, and the rain came in; she had not slept in it very long, and her health had already begun to suffer.
“Good heavens! That is like what my grandmother used to relate of the dungeons of Almeida,” he exclaimed. “Change her room, change her room at once, child, and send my fine trunks up to the garret.”
When Juliana learned that the favor she asked had been granted, she said,—
“Ah, Senhora, you give me new life! God will reward you; for my health is not in a fit condition to sleep in a garret like that.”
At this time she complained frequently of her health. Her complexion was livid, with a red spot on either cheek; she had days of profound sadness and nervous excitability; her feet gave her no rest. Ah! she needed to take a great deal of care of her health, a great deal of care indeed! Following up her advantage, she requested Luiza two days afterwards to come and look at the trunk room; and showing her the floor, in which many of the bricks were wanting,—
“This cannot remain as it is, Senhora,” she said. “I must have a matting, or it is not worth while to make the change. If I had money, I would not trouble the senhora; but—”
“Very well, very well; I will see to it,” returned Luiza, resignedly. And she bought the matting without saying anything to Jorge. But when it was brought home he asked Luiza what was the meaning of the rolls of matting in the hall.
She laughed, and placing her hands on his shoulders, “The meaning of it is that Juliana begged me for a matting,” she said, “because the floor of her room is almost without bricks. She wanted to pay for it, and let me deduct it from her wages, which would have been an absurdity.” And she added, with a compassionate gesture, “After all, they are God’s creatures, as we are, and not slaves.”
“Bravo! See that the bronzes and mirrors are taken to the senhora’s room without delay. But what is the meaning of this change? Once you could not bear to look at her.”
“Poor thing!” said Luiza; “I always knew she was a good woman, and while I was alone I learned to appreciate her better. I had no one to talk to, and she was company for me; and when I was sick—”