Page:Brazilian short stories.djvu/55

 "Headache! Well, I never! Just that …"

In the afternoon on the ride, Trancoso admired and praised all that he saw, to the astonishment of the planter, who, for the first time, heard his belongings praised.

Usually buyers run down everything, looking only for faults; they begin to exclaim about the dangers of loose soil as soon as they come across a crumbling bank; they find the water scarce and bad; and if they see an ox they glue their eyes on the parasites.

Not Trancoso! He only praised! As Moreira, when they passed the counterfeited places, pointed to the standards with trembling finger, the young man exclaimed in astonishment:

"Caquéra! Why this is wonderful!"

At sight of the Pau d'Alho, his amazement reached its height:

"What I see is marvelous! I never expected to see even a vestige of such a tree in these parts," he said slipping a leaf into his pocketbook as a souvenir.

In the house he unbosomed himself to the old lady:

"Well, madam, the quality of the soil is far beyond my expectations. Even Раu d'Alho! It is really astonishing!"

Dona Izaura lowered her eyes.

The scene occurred on the veranda.

Night had fallen.

A night humming with the chirp of crickets, the croaks of frogs, numberless stars in the sky and endless peace on earth.

Trancoso, stretched out on a lounging-chair,