Jose stayed around the house all one market-day afternoon, taking care of little Tareja and being company for his father, while the mother, Joanna and Malfada went to the village with Antonio. Malfada dangled the silver-link bag from her wrist, just as Antonio knew she would; and she brought back home in it a little boxful of candies for Jose. It was a great day for them all.
There were long, pleasant evenings, for Portuguese families stay at home together instead of going to their neighbors for amusement. Jose played softly on his violin. The mother, Joanna and Malfada sewed or embroidered. Antonio read aloud from some book, or oftener from a newspaper he had bought on the weekly market-day and which gave news of the nation's progress. Sometimes, but not often, he went out with his flute; and then the family knew that he had gone to serenade Inez Castillo.
Swiftly the days passed. Soon came _Natal_--Christmas--the great holiday of the year. On this day and on New Year's, there were fireworks and decorations at each farmhouse, singing, and visits back and forth.
Daily between Christmas and New Year's the Almaida family ate _bôlos de bacalhau_, and _rebanadas_,--thick slices of _brôa_ soaked in new milk, fried in olive oil and spread with honey. _Rebanadas_ is the special holiday food for Christmas and New Year's. The red tomato salt-cellar was used at table on each of these days.
The holidays from farm-work lasted up to the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6th. On the day after, the school in the village opened.
Five days each week Jose and Malfada walked barefoot the three miles in the early morning, returning in the dusk of the mild winter day. The walk was very tiring sometimes. It was fortunate that both children were strong, and used to being much on their feet.
At first Carlos wanted to go with them. But soon he seemed to understand that he was not to be allowed to take these morning walks. On each school-day, however, at four o'clock, he would begin watching for the children, and the moment he caught sight of them coming along the wood-lane, he dashed off at top speed to meet them.
The old parrot was very funny these days. So much going and coming confused him. In the mornings when Jose and Malfada went away he called out _Accolade_--welcome, and in the afternoons, when they returned, _à deus_--good-by. These were the only words he knew; Jose had tried in vain to teach him other words, just as Antonio had tried when a little boy.