The Sad End of Policarpo Quaresma by Lima Barreto

Author:Lima Barreto [Barreto, Lima]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141395715
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2014-05-05T00:00:00+00:00

IV

‘Stand Firm, I’m On My Way’

Dona Adelaide, Quaresma’s sister, was four years older than he was. She was a fine-looking lady, of medium build, a complexion that had begun to acquire the glaze of advancing age, a thick head of hair, now entirely a yellowish grey, and an expression that was calm and gentle. Unemotional, unimaginative, objective and positive in her outlook, she was a contrast to her brother in every way. Although there was never any deep disagreement between them, neither was there any deep understanding. She neither understood nor tried to understand her brother’s nature, just as her methodical, organized nature and plain, straightforward ideas had no effect on him.

She had already reached fifty, and shortly he would too. But they were both in fine health, with very few ailments, and promised to live for many years to come. The orderly, untroubled life they had lived until then was largely responsible for their good health. Quaresma’s obsessions had not emerged until he was forty, and she had none.

Life was simple for Dona Adelaide: it meant living – that is, having a house, lunch and dinner, clothes, all modest and unassuming. She had no ambitions or passions. As a girl she had not dreamed of princes, fine possessions, adulation or even a husband. She never married because she had not felt the need to; she felt no need for sex. She was a person who was at ease with herself.

Within the family household her tranquil manner, her calm emerald-green eyes that shone with a lunar softness served to highlight her brother’s restlessness and his anguished state of mind.

I am not implying that Quaresma was used to raving like a lunatic. Fortunately not. His appearance revealed nothing of the inner anguish that disturbed his spirit; however, a more careful observation of his habits, gestures and behaviour would soon reveal his troubled thoughts and his lack of peace of mind.

There were times when he would gaze into the distance at the horizon for minutes on end, lost in thought, others, when he was working in the fields, when he would stand stock still, eyes fixed on the ground, scratching one hand with the other. He would remain like that for a moment, then with a click of the tongue he would return to his work. And there were even some occasions when he would let out an unwarranted exclamation or remark.

On these occasions Anastácio would glance furtively at his employer. He no longer looked him in the eye, nor did he make comment. Felizardo continued his account of the elopement of Custódio’s daughter with Manduca from the store. And so the work progressed …

It hardly need be said that Dona Adelaide did not notice any of this, for the obvious reason that, apart from in the early morning and at dinner, they were always apart, Quaresma planting in the fields, she supervising the running of the house.

Their other friends and acquaintances were not aware of the preoccupations that were gradually consuming the major for the simple reason that they lived so far away.

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