And this was what Juliana resolved to do. Little by little she began to think she ought now to enjoy life. Since she had so good a bed, why should she rise so early? With such fine dresses, why should she not take a walk occasionally? She must make the most of her opportunities. One very cold morning she remained in bed till nine o’clock, with the shutters open, and the sunshine falling across the matted floor. She explained the occurrence coolly to Luiza by saying that she had overslept herself. Two days afterwards Joanna came to her mistress at ten o’clock, saying,—
“The Senhora Juliana is still in bed, and everything is yet to be done.”
Luiza was terrified. What! must she endure her neglect of her duties as she had endured her exactions?
She went to Juliana’s room.
“You are still in bed,” she said.
“I am obeying the doctor’s orders,” replied Juliana, insolently.
And from this day forth she hardly ever rose before it was time to serve the breakfast. Luiza asked Joanna to take her place; it would be only for a short time, the poor woman suffered so much! And in order to make her contented she gave her money to help her to buy a gown.
Juliana then began to go out without asking permission, and when she came home late for dinner she did not take the trouble to make any excuse. One day Luiza, seeing her putting on her black gloves in the hall, could no longer restrain herself.
“Are you going out?” she said.
“Yes, I am going out. Everything is in order,—everything that it is my duty to see to.”