“Dona Beatriz is tall like the mother, and sway when she walk, like you see the tules in the little wind.  She have the eyes very black and long, and look like she feel sleep till she get mad; then, Madre de Dios! they opa wide and look like she is on fire inside and go to burn you too.  She have the skin very white, but I see it hot like the blood go to burst out.  Once she get furioso cause one the vaqueros hurch her horse, and she wheep him till he yell like he is in purgatory and no have no one say mass and get him out.  But she have the disposition very sweet, and after, she is sorry and make him a cake hersel; and we all loving her like she is a queen, and she can do it all whatte she want.

“Dona Ester have the eyes more brown and soft, and the disposition more mild, but very feerm, and she having her own way more often than Dona Beatriz.  She no is so tall, but very gracerful too, and walk like she think she is tall.  All the Spanish so dignify, no?  She maka very kind with the Indians when they are seek, and all loving her, but no so much like Dona Beatriz.

“Both girls very industrioso, sewing and make the broidery; make beautiful closes to wear at the ball.  Ay, the balls!  No have balls like those in California now.  Sometimes have one fifty miles away, but they no care; jump on the horse and go, dance till the sun wake up and no feel tire at all.  Sometimes when is wedding, or rodeo, dance for one week, then ride home like nothing have happen.  In the winter the family living in San Diego; have big house there and dance every night, horseback in day when no rain, and have so many races and games.  Ay, yi!  All the girls so pretty.  No wear hats then; the reboso, no more, or the mantilla; fix it so gracerful; and the dresses so bright colours, sometimes with flowers all over; the skirt make very fule, and the waist have the point.  And the closes de mens!  Madre de Dios!  The beautiful velvet and silk closes, broider by silver and gold!  And the saddles so fine!  But you think I never go to tell you the story.

“One summer we are more gay than ever.  So many caballeros love my senoritas, but I think they never love any one, and never go to marry at all.  For a month we have the house fule; meriendas—­peek-neeks, you call, no?  And races every day, dance in the night.  Then all go to stay at another rancho; it is costumbre to visit the one to the other.  I feel very sorry for two so handsome caballeros, who are more devot than any.  They looking very sad when they go, and I am sure they propose and no was accep.

“In the evening it is very quiet, and I am sweep the corridor when I hear two horses gallop down the valley.  I fix my hand—­so—­like the barrel de gun, and look, and I see, riding very hard, Don Carmelo Pelajo and Don Rafael Arguello.  The firs, he loving Dona Beatriz, the other, he want Dona Ester.  I go queeck and tell the girls, and Beatriz toss her head and look very scornfule, but Ester blushing and the eyes look very happy.  The young mens come in in few minutes and are well treat by Don Carlos and Dona Juana, for like them very much and are glad si the girls marry with them.