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Marta was the daughter of Simeão, a farmer with some property. Simeão had a rich brother in Pernambuco. That brother was called Feliciano. Simeão spoke badly of him because he hardly ever sent money.
In twenty years, Feliciano had sent only three coins. One part was for his mother and another for the souls in Purgatory. Only the remainder was for Simeão.
Several young men had shown an interest in Marta. Some worked in farming and others had a trade. Her father even negotiated her marriage to a rich and mature master builder. Then José Dias of Vilalva appeared.
José was the son of a rich farmer. He studied Latin in order to become a priest. He was frail, thin and pale. A surgeon said that the effort of studying was bad for him. His father decided to take him out of lessons.
The narrator uses the case to criticise the poor education of many priests of that time. José studied with Friar Roque, a former member of the Third Order. Friar Roque had a sister with paralysis. She taught reading, writing and sewing to girls.
It was in the yard of that house that José began to notice Marta. She was about fourteen years old. She was very fair, thin, neat and serious. She wore a yellow skirt and a blue jacket. The other girls thought that she seemed too demure.
The other students were coarse and noisy boys. They made bold remarks to Marta. Some watched the pupils' legs when they climbed the stairs. José kept away from that group. He watched Marta pass in silence and never said such things to her.
When Marta was nearly fourteen, Simeão wanted to take her out of school. He had heard that the students were troubling her. He complained to Friar Roque. The teacher lined up nine boys and called Marta in.
He pointed first to José and asked whether it had been him. Marta blushed and replied that José had never said anything to her. Then she lowered her eyes and did not accuse the others. She said that she had made no complaint. It was true.
The report had come from Zeferino das Lamelas. Zeferino was a wealthy master builder and was over thirty-two years old. He was working on a granary near Friar Roque's house. He had seen the students' behaviour and told Simeão about it.
He had not done so merely to defend good behaviour. He was fond of Marta and wanted her for himself. It was the first time that he felt what he called love. Friar Roque warned him that he must not slander the pupils.
Two students then decided to beat Zeferino. They attacked him one night in a pine wood. Zeferino never knew for certain who had beaten him. He thought that the attackers were rivals in his trade. He imagined revenge for an architectural criticism.
After some time, Marta finished her lessons. She could now read simple books and old legal decisions kept at home. She could also write with some confidence.
The first letter was to her uncle Feliciano, but Simeão dictated it. Marta asked for his blessing and two gold coins for some earrings. Simeão filled the letter with false stories about debts and failed harvests. He wanted to see whether his brother would finally send some money.
The second letter was very different. Marta wrote it without a model and without her father dictating it. It was a letter to José Dias. By then, José had already left his studies because of his health.
Meanwhile, Zeferino spoke directly to Simeão. He asked him how much he owed. He knew Simeão's debts almost better than Simeão did. Money was owed to a religious brotherhood and to Simeão's brother.
With the smaller accounts, the total came to more than one and a half contos. Zeferino asked whether Simeão wanted to make a deal. Simeão thought that he wanted to buy a meadow beside the mill. He immediately said that he would not sell it.
Zeferino then explained his proposal. He would pay all of Simeão's debts. In return, he wanted to marry Marta. He wanted neither a dowry nor a share of the other property.
Simeão asked whether he was serious. Zeferino replied that his word was enough. Simeão confirmed that the proposal was for the girl without a dowry. When Zeferino said yes again, Simeão declared that Marta was his.
Marta was not present at that conversation. No one asked her whether she wanted to marry Zeferino. She did not give her consent.
The narrator compares the deal to the purchase of a yellow cow. Simeão had bargained for the animal at a fair and was now bargaining away his daughter.
The conversation took place beneath a chestnut tree on a beautiful August afternoon. There were birds, green leaves and peaceful light. The beauty of the place makes the agreement even more cruel.
The narrator says that similar bargains also take place in cities. There, men use finer words but also treat women as property. Some fathers educate their daughters for an advantageous marriage. Some rich men seek a wife as a sign of their success.
The narrator recalls that some fortunes grew from exploitation and the purchase of enslaved Black people. That money could then be used to buy a white woman.
Zeferino was willing to give money and even blood for Marta. His passion might be sincere to him, but Marta did not share it. Zeferino's feelings did not give Simeão the right to promise away his daughter. Nevertheless, the two men left with an agreement made without Marta.