Leporella

This novella is about a simple minded, hardworking, thrifty domestic servant named Crescenza, nicknamed Leporella after an operatic character by one of her employer's girlfriends.  Used to keeping her head down, working hard, minding her own business, and not expecting anything good from anyone, she becomes the housekeeper of an aristocratic married couple, where the husband earns her loyalty (and perhaps her love too), by being charming and considerate towards her.  This man finds his marriage, and his wife, unpleasant, so he embarks on a series of secret affairs whenever he gets the chance.  In her devotion to him and growing hatred for his wife, Leporella does what she can to cover for him and facilitate his happiness.  Eventually the husband finds out just how fiercely loyal she can be, and that's what destroys her.

As with other novellas and short stories of Stefan Zweig's, this one shows his talent for creating strong characters, interesting situations, and psychological insight.