Ностромо

           Thetree-fernsthathadluxuriatedinitssprayhaddiedaroundthedried-uppool,andthehighravinewasonlyabigtrenchhalffilledupwiththerefuseofexcavationsandtailings.Thetorrent,dammedupabove,sentitswaterrushingalongtheopenflumesofscoopedtreetrunksstridingontrestle-legstotheturbinesworkingthestampsonthelowerplateau—themesagrandeoftheSanTomemountain.Onlythememoryofthewaterfall,withitsamazingfernery,likeahanginggardenabovetherocksofthegorge,waspreservedinMrs.Gould’swater-coloursketch;shehadmadeithastilyonedayfromaclearedpatchinthebushes,sittingintheshadeofaroofofstrawerectedforheronthreeroughpolesunderDonPepe’sdirection.

           Mrs.Gouldhadseenitallfromthebeginning:theclearingofthewilderness,themakingoftheroad,thecuttingofnewpathsuptheclifffaceofSanTome.Forweekstogethershehadlivedonthespotwithherhusband;andshewassolittleinSulacoduringthatyearthattheappearanceoftheGouldcarriageontheAlamedawouldcauseasocialexcitement.Fromtheheavyfamilycoachesfullofstatelysenorasandblack-eyedsenoritasrollingsolemnlyintheshadedalleywhitehandswerewavedtowardsherwithanimationinaflutterofgreetings.DonaEmiliawas“downfromthemountain.”

           Butnotforlong.DonaEmiliawouldbegone“uptothemountain”inadayortwo,andhersleekcarriagemuleswouldhaveaneasytimeofitforanotherlongspell.