The olives would absorb tobacco smoke.

The oil would be spoiled.

Mr.Esvido grumbled much, but obeyed.

There was a warning in the fate of the neighbor, Antone Ramos, who in last year's olive season had thought one evening to smoke a pipeful of tobacco secretly, and lo! the American, ever watchful, came to Antone Ramos' house that very night, and the tobacco smoke was perceptible! Antone Ramos was discharged! Therefore, during this year's olive harvest, Mr.Esvido, with a cautious respect for the American's preternaturally, acute perception concerning tobacco, refrained from smoking, and found solace in listening with Delpha to Mrs.Esvido's evening readings from the Biblia Sagrada.

It seemed marvelous to Mr.Esvido that his wife could read.