“Come here, Adelaide,” he said, going into the living room. “How old are you now?”

“Fifteen.”

“Do you know how old your mother is?”

“She’s twenty-seven, isn’t she?”

“No, she’s thirty, which means that your mother married when she was just fifteen.”

Vasconcelos paused to gauge the effect of these words, but in vain. Adelaide had no idea what he was getting at.

Her father went on:

“Have you considered marriage?”

She blushed deeply and said nothing, but when her father insisted, she answered:

“Oh, Papa, I don’t want to marry.”

“You don’t want to marry? Whyever not?”

“Because I don’t want to. I’m happy living here.”

“You could marry and still live here.”

“Yes, but I don’t want to.”

“Come on, you’re in love with someone, aren’t you? Admit it.”

“Don’t ask me such things, Papa. I’m not in love with anyone.”

Adelaide sounded so genuine that Vasconcelos could not doubt her sincerity.

“She’s telling the truth,” he thought. “I need to try another tack.”

Adelaide sat down next to him and said:

“So can we just not talk about this anymore, Papa?”

“We must talk, my dear. You’re still a child and can’t yet look to the future. Imagine if I and your mother were to die tomorrow. Who would look after you? Only a husband.”

“But there’s no one I like.”

“Not at the moment, but if your fiancé were a handsome lad with a good heart, you would come to like him. I’ve already chosen someone who loves you deeply, and you’ll come to love him too.”

Adelaide shuddered.

“I will?” she said. “But who is it?”

“Gomes.”

“But I don’t love him, Papa.”

“Not now, I’m sure, but you can’t deny that he’s worthy of being loved. In a couple of months you’ll be madly in love with him.”

Adelaide said not a word. She bowed her head and started playing with one of her thick, dark plaits. She was breathing hard and staring down at the carpet.

“So that’s agreed, is it?” asked Vasconcelos.

“But, Papa, what if I was unhappy?”

“That’s impossible, my dear. You will be happy and you’ll adore your husband.”

“Oh, Papa,” said Adelaide, her eyes brimming with tears, “please don’t make me marry yet.”

“Adelaide, a daughter’s first duty is to obey her father, and I’m your father. I want you to marry Gomes and you will marry him.”

To have their full effect, these words needed to be followed by a quick exit. Vasconcelos knew this and immediately departed, leaving Adelaide in deep despair.

She didn’t love anyone. No other love object lay behind her refusal, nor did she feel any particular aversion for her would-be suitor. She merely felt complete indifference.

In the circumstances, marriage could only be a hateful imposition.