Ностромо
Chapter 8
Hesaidonlyafewwords,evidentlydeeplyfelt,andmeantperhapsmostlyforAvellanos—hisoldfriend—astothenecessityofunremittingefforttosecurethelastingwelfareofthecountryemergingafterthislaststruggle,hehoped,intoaperiodofpeaceandmaterialprosperity.
Mrs.Gould,listeningtothemellow,slightlymournfulvoice,lookingatthisrotund,dark,spectacledface,attheshortbody,obesetothepointofinfirmity,thoughtthatthismanofdelicateandmelancholymind,physicallyalmostacripple,comingoutofhisretirementintoadangerousstrifeatthecallofhisfellows,hadtherighttospeakwiththeauthorityofhisself-sacrifice.Andyetshewasmadeuneasy.Hewasmorepatheticthanpromising,thisfirstcivilianChiefoftheStateCostaguanahadeverknown,pronouncing,glassinhand,hissimplewatchwordsofhonesty,peace,respectforlaw,politicalgoodfaithabroadandathome—thesafeguardsofnationalhonour.
Hesatdown.Duringtherespectful,appreciativebuzzofvoicesthatfollowedthespeech,GeneralMonteroraisedapairofheavy,droopingeyelidsandrolledhiseyeswithasortofuneasydullnessfromfacetoface.
