Ностромо

           Inthemorningthegentlemen,wellmountedinbraidedsombrerosandembroideredridingsuits,withmuchsilveronthetrappingsoftheirhorses,wouldrideforthtoescortthedepartingguestsbeforecommittingthem,withgravegood-byes,tothecareofGodattheboundarypillarsoftheirestates.Inallthesehouseholdsshecouldhearstoriesofpoliticaloutrage;friends,relatives,ruined,imprisoned,killedinthebattlesofsenselesscivilwars,barbarouslyexecutedinferociousproscriptions,asthoughthegovernmentofthecountryhadbeenastruggleoflustbetweenbandsofabsurddevilsletlooseuponthelandwithsabresanduniformsandgrandiloquentphrases.Andonallthelipsshefoundawearydesireforpeace,thedreadofofficialdomwithitsnightmarishparodyofadministrationwithoutlaw,withoutsecurity,andwithoutjustice.

           Sheboreawholetwomonthsofwanderingverywell;shehadthatpowerofresistancetofatiguewhichonediscovershereandthereinsomequitefrail-lookingwomenwithsurprise—likeastateofpossessionbyaremarkablystubbornspirit.DonPepe—theoldCostaguanamajor—aftermuchdisplayofsolicitudeforthedelicatelady,hadendedbyconferringuponherthenameofthe“Never-tiredSenora.”Mrs.GouldwasindeedbecomingaCostaguanera.HavingacquiredinSouthernEuropeaknowledgeoftruepeasantry,shewasabletoappreciatethegreatworthofthepeople.Shesawthemanunderthesilent,sad-eyedbeastofburden.