Vocabulary

á duras penas - with great difficulty

á la larga - in the long run

á medida que - in proportion as

á mejor andar - at best

á plazos - in instalments

ajeno - averse

apagado - extinguished, dull (colours)

asentar - to book (an order)

chillones - gaudy, screaming (colours)

claro - light (colours)

claro y redondo - (quite clearly)

columna - column

con el corazón en la mano - quite candidly

confeccionar - to make up

confesar - to confess

conservas alimenticias - preserves

definir - to define (also to settle)

dificultad - difficulty

ensayo - trial, proof, venture

escoger - to choose

exceder - to exceed

facilidad - ease, facility

fijo - fixed, firm

fondos - grounds (pictures, cloth)

gana de buena - willingly

gana de mala) - unwillingly

ganga - a bargain

langosta - lobster

mariscos - shell-fish

muestrarios - pattern cards, sets

oscuro - dark

paquete - packet, parcel

no poder menos de... - not to be able to help

puntos - points, spots (in prints)

restos - remnants

sacar - to pull out, to get out, to get back

sardinas - sardines

satines brochados - brocaded satins

serie - series

sin mirar á gastos - regardless of expense

sobrio - quiet (colour)

solidez - solidity

tomar á mal - to take amiss

vivo - vivid, bright (colours)