Dom Casmurro

by Machado de Assis

CV - The Arms

In addition, everything was going well. Capitú liked to laugh and have fun, and in the early days, when we went to the rides or spectacles, it was like a bird that came out of the cage. It was arranged with grace and modesty. Although she liked jewels, like the other girls, she did not want me to buy her many expensive ones, and one day she was so distressed that I promised not to buy any more; but it was only for a short time.

Our life was more or less placid. When we were not with family or friends, or if we did not go to any show or be private (and these were rare) we spent the nights at our window of Glory, looking at the sea and the sky, the shadow of mountains and ships, or people passing by on the beach. Sometimes I told Capitú the history of the city, others gave him news of astronomy; news of amateur that she listened attentive and curious, not always so much that did not cochilla itself a little. Not knowing the piano, she later learned to be married, and soon, and soon she would play in the houses of friendship. In Gloria it was one of our recreations; also sang, but little and rare, for having no voice; one day came to understand that it was better not to sing anything and fulfilled the directive. He liked to dance and adorned himself with love when he went to a ball; the arms is that ... The arms deserve a period.

They were beautiful, and on the first night she took them to a ball, I do not think there were any towns in the city, nor her readers, who were then little girls, if they were born, but probably still in the marmore, whence they came, or in the hands of the divine sculptor. They were the most beautiful of the night, to the point that they filled me with fading. He talked badly to other people, just to see them, no matter how much they intertwined with those of other people's coats. It was not like that at the second ball; in that, when I saw that men were not tired of looking at them, of looking for them, almost to ask them, and that they brushed the black sleeves over them, I was vexed and annoyed. To the third I did not go, and here

I had the support of Escobar, to whom I entrusted my boredom candidly; agreed soon with me.

"She does not go too, or she'll have long sleeves; the opposite seems to me indecent.

-It is not? But do not tell me why; they must call us seminarians. Capitú already called me that.

I did not fail to tell Capitú about Escobar's approbation. Ella smiled and replied that Sanchinha's arms were badly made, but she gave in quickly, and did not go to the ball; to others it was, but it took them half dressed in sackcloth or I do not know what, that neither covered nor discovered altogether, like the shed of Camões.