Marianela

Nela returns to Señor Centeno’s house, where she resides. The humble and crowded house consists of Señor Centeno and Señora Señana and their children, Tanasio, Mariuca, La Pepina, and Celipin in addition to Nela. Despite being a resident of the household, Nela is frequently forgotten by the family. Often, the family has to remind Señana to give Nela food. Señana tolerates Nela’s presence, believing that taking the orphan girl under her family’s care is a show of benevolence that will earn her merit in the afterlife. Due to her treatment, Nela often tries to stay out of the way and makes her bed in whatever nook is available in the cramped house. 

Recently, Nela has started sleeping in one of the large baskets in the kitchen that Tanasio has made. The night that Teodoro arrives, Nela emerges from her basket to give Celipin, the youngest of the children, a peseta that Teodoro has given her. She has always given the grateful Celipin her meager earnings, having no use for the money herself. Celipin reveals that he is saving up to purchase a spelling book to teach himself how to read. He wants to leave the mines and attempt to better his social rank in a big city like Madrid.