Fray Salvi would listen in silence, take the money, and at once turn out his goats and sheep so that they might graze in the alferez's garden, while he himself looked up a new text for another longer and more edifying sermon.

But these were only little pleasantries, and if the two chanced to meet they would shake hands and converse politely.
When her husband was sleeping off the wine he had drunk, or was snoring through the siesta, and she could not quarrel with him, Dona Consolacion, in a blue flannel camisa, with a big cigar in her mouth, would take her stand at the window.

She could not endure the young people, so from there she would scrutinize and mock the passing girls, who, being afraid of her, would hurry by in confusion, holding their breath the while, and not daring to raise their eyes.

One great virtue Dona Consolation possessed, and this was that she had evidently never looked in a mirror.
These were the rulers of the town of San Diego..