It represented a journey of three leagues to the nearest village, a weekly contact with people unlike those of the ranch.

A carriage drawn by four horses took the senora and the two senoritas in the latest suits and hats arrived, via Buenos Aires, from Europe.

At the suggestion of Chicha, Desnoyers accompanied them in the capacity of driver.
The father remained at home, taking advantage of this opportunity to survey his fields in their Sunday solitude, thus keeping a closer oversight on the shiftlessness of his hands.

He was very religious--"Religion and good manners, you know." But had he not given thousands of dollars toward building the neighboring church?
A man of his fortune should not be submitted to the same obligations as ragamuffins! During the Sunday lunch the young ladies were apt to make comments upon the persons and merits of the young men of the village and neighboring ranches, who had lingered at the church door in order to chat with them.
"Don't fool yourselves, girls!" observed the father shrewdly.

"You believe that they want you for your elegance, don't you?
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