Overhearing the chat of his father and sister about his engagement, Alfredo sat on his bed reflecting on the mess that he made between his Fiance (Esperanza) and his beloved friend Julia.
A converation between Don Julian (Alfredo's Father) and Carmen (Alfredo's sister) about when does Alfredo is getting married.
She does not seem to be in much of a hurry either
Why is he not a bit more decided, I wonder. He is over thirty, is he not? Andstill a bachelor! Esperanza must be tired waiting.
How can a woman be in a hurry when the man does not hurry her? do you remember how much in love he was?
Yes, I supposed long-engaged people are like that; warm now, cool tomorrow. I think they are oftener cool than warm. The very fact that an engagement has been allowed to prolong itself argues a certain placidity of temperament--or of affection--on the part of either, or both.
Alfredo remembered that period with a wonder not unmixed with shame. That was less than four years ago. He could not understand those months of a great hunger that was not of the body nor yet of the mind, a craving that had seized on him one quiet night when the moon was abroad and under the dappled shadow of the trees in the plaza, man wooed maid.
One evening he had gone neighboring with Don Julian; a rare enough occurrence, since he made it a point to avoid all appearance of currying favor with the Judge. This particular evening, however, he had allowed himself to be persuaded.
"A little mental relaxation is beneficial every now and then. Besides, a judge's good will surely worth a rising young lawyer's time."
Good evening, gentlement!
The two weere welcomed by the judge's sister-in-law, who Alfredo thought the judge's wife.
Alfredo her name is Julia Salas. She is the judge del Valle's sister-in-law.