Part I, Chapter 6 Summary

After the heart-to-heart talk between Mrs. Milagros and Camilo Castegano from the previous chapter, Rosa is frequently and openly discussed at La Madrilena. Mrs. Milagros assumes that Camilo and Rosa will be engaged as soon as things can be worked out with Rosa's father. Mrs. Milagros and her daughters long to meet Rosa, and they beg him to bring home a picture of her.

Camilo tells them that he's been painting a smaller portrait of her to keep for himself and that it's much better than the larger one he has been painting for Rosa's father. One night, he brings the portrait home wrapped in a paper package. After supper, Camilo, Mrs. Milagros, and her three daughters congregate in Camilo's room to look at the portrait. They all want to see whether Rosa is beautiful or plain. Mrs. Milagros...