Helena-Machado de Assis Adviser Valley was a rich man, and had an affair with a loving wife who had migrated from Rio Grande
do Sul, she had a
daughter, Helena, A which he shares. Counselor Vale dies, and his alleged that it was his daughter Helena, and it should take its place in the family, we all believe this, but Helena knows that is not really his daughter, but in his zeal to ascend socially just accepting it. In principle, D. Ursula reacts with a certain prejudice to the arrival of Helena, but in the course of the narrative it will earn the love of D. Ursula, Estácio however, was a good son, and the will of the father does not ask anything. Dr. Camargo think what nonsense, because he wanted to marry his daughter, Eugênia with Estácio for them to become rich at the expense of money for Estácio, and one more family would only diminish the part of the heritage of Estácio.
Helena takes its place in the family as a
woman of fiber, owner of a real home, cares very well for his new family, runs the house better than D. The Ursula was, and impressed not only the family and the whole society in general, as well as being a woman balanced as few that existed, it was beautiful, sensitive and rich. In course of the narrative, Helena will impressionando more and more Estácio, and it ends up apaixonando by her, and she for him. Here comes the question X of the book, a hand Estácio, if martirizando up apaixonar for his alleged sister, which was a sin, and the other Helena, also passionate about Estácio, knew of this whole truth, but could not play all for the top and stay with him, after all he had received a fortune of inheritance. Here then comes Mendonça, who falls in love with then asks Eugênia in marriage also to try to forget Helena.
The family had a house, and that house was near a house simple, poor, and Helena always tends to see this house, one day Estácio resolved follow it, and met Salvador, and was taking satisfaction on visits to Helena, Salvador he began to tell a great story, and surprised Estácio to prove that it was his daughter Helena, not of Counselor Valley, and the entire history of the life of Helena up there. On the same day Helena after a strong rain is weak, will brink of death, Estácio, taken by its strong love will care for Helena and it makes this declaration. Helena dies.