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The February letter had a painful cause. Teresa and Simão's secret love was discovered. Tadeu might have accepted the Botelho family in other circumstances. However, he and Domingos hated each other. Domingos mocked his neighbour's resentment. Tadeu accused the magistrate of accepting money. Domingos pretended not to care, but his anger grew. The narrator believes that his family stopped him from using a gun.
One day, young Rita entered Simão's room. From the window, she saw Teresa in the house opposite. Teresa knew that Rita was Simão's favourite sister. She also knew that the brother and sister looked alike. Teresa smiled and waved to her. Rita answered with another smile. Then she fled from the window. Her mother had forbidden any contact with that house. The next day, Rita returned at the same time. Teresa seemed to be waiting for her. They both moved back from the panes and spoke very quietly. The narrow street allowed them to hear every word. Teresa asked whether Rita wanted to be her friend. Rita nodded.
These meetings continued for several days. Little by little, they lost their fear. Teresa told the girl about her love for Simão. She said that one day they would be sisters. She also asked Rita to keep the secret. However, Rita raised her voice during one conversation. Another sister heard her and went to tell their father everything. Domingos summoned young Rita. He frightened her until she revealed everything. Rita Preciosa tried to calm her husband. He did not listen to her and ran to Simão's room. Teresa was still at the window opposite.
Domingos ordered her to stop looking towards his house. Then he said that she should marry a shoemaker. In his view, such a husband would be worthy of Teresa's father. Teresa fled, pale and ashamed. Tadeu then appeared at another window. Domingos hurled at him all the insults stored up over the years. Tadeu did not reply. Later, he questioned his daughter. Teresa allowed him to believe it was an innocent conversation between girls. Tadeu ordered her not to return to that window.
Her father's calmness had a hidden reason. He wanted Teresa to marry her cousin Baltasar Coutinho. Baltasar was wealthy and noble, like Teresa's family. He lived in Castro Daire and owned a fine estate. Tadeu believed that he understood women's hearts well. He thought that gentleness would make Teresa forget Simão. He also trusted in the six months of separation. In his view, such young love could not last. However, Teresa was an exception. Tadeu summoned Baltasar to Viseu and told him his plan.
Baltasar fell in love quickly. Teresa felt fear and revulsion. He mistook her coldness for shyness. He imagined that he would win her over slowly. For a while, he avoided making a clear proposal. Then Tadeu told him to speak. It is time to open my heart, cousin. I am always ready to listen to you, cousin Baltasar. Her calm reply made Baltasar less confident. He said that their two hearts were already united. Now he wanted to unite the two families as well. Teresa turned pale, but answered without fear. That is impossible. Our hearts are not united. I am your friend, but I have never wanted to be your wife. Baltasar asked whether she hated him. Teresa said that she respected him, but could not love him. Such a marriage would make them both unhappy. Baltasar then asked whether she loved another man. Teresa said that she did.
He accused her of disobeying her father. Teresa distinguished the heart from the will. My heart is stronger than my will as a daughter. I would disobey him if I married against my father's will. But I only said that I love another man. Baltasar mocked the firmness shown by a sixteen-year-old girl. They are not merely words. They are true feelings and deserve respect. Would you prefer me to lie to you? Baltasar asked her for his rival's name. Teresa refused to tell him the secret. She could no longer consider him a friend. She understood that he would be her enemy.
Baltasar then showed that he knew Simão's name. He called him a drunkard, violent and an enemy of the nobility. He recalled the fights in Viseu and the imprisonment in Coimbra. Teresa knew nothing about part of that past. However, the accusations did not change her love. Since she had known Simão, he had caused no fresh distress. Baltasar asked whether her love had changed Simão. Teresa replied that she did not know and did not think about it. Baltasar said that he would save her from Simão's clutches. He promised to control her life after Tadeu's death. He also threatened to kick Simão out. So you want to rule me, cousin? He replied that he wanted to guide her judgement.
He then went to tell Tadeu about the conversation. Her father was astonished by Teresa's courage. He ran to her room intending to beat her. Baltasar stopped him from using violence at that moment. He said that Teresa might run away from home. Tadeu restrained his anger and considered another form of pressure. Hours later, he summoned Teresa and spoke calmly. He said that he wanted her to marry Baltasar.
He also claimed that he would not force her. However, he would not allow her love for his enemy's son. Tadeu said that he was close to death. He accused his daughter of taking away his last years of happiness. In his eyes, Teresa was already dead. He ordered her to enter a convent and wait for his death. Afterwards, she could be unhappy as she wished. Teresa wept, but maintained her decision. She would accept staying in a convent because it was her father's will. However, she asked him to keep her at home. She promised not to commit any dishonourable act. She also promised to obey in everything that was right. She would be as one dead to all men except her father. She accepted confinement, but did not choose the religious life. Tadeu listened to her and did not reply.