"Do you see those wagons being loaded? The coffee in those sacks is ready to go to Sao Paulo, and thence to Santos to be shipped to North America. Our coffee goes to every part of the world, for the coffee of the Fazenda Esperança is considered especially good.
"Now you have followed the coffee berry from the tree to the market and I hope you will try to remember all about it, for the coffee industry is one of the greatest in the country."
"It's ever so interesting, uncle," said Maria. "And thank you for telling us about it."
"I have enjoyed it more than you have," he answered. "It is a pleasure to talk to such eager little listeners.
"Rest yourselves now, for you must be tired with all this tramping. I am going to the house to see your mother about some plans for to-morrow."
"Do tell us, uncle," they all cried, but he only shook his head and laughed as he went away.
"I shall simply die of curiosity if I do not find out what uncle is planning," said Maria.
"I don't see what good that would do," said Martim, "for you wouldn't be likely to either know about it or to do it if you were dead."
Maria made a naughty little face at him, and a quarrel seemed imminent when Lola, who had gone to the house when her uncle did, came running toward them waving her hand wildly.