Ностромо
Chapter 8
Themilitarybackwoodsherooftheparty,thoughsecretlyimpressedbythesuddennoveltiesandsplendoursofhisposition(hehadneverbeenonboardashipbefore,andhadhardlyeverseentheseaexceptfromadistance),understoodbyasortofinstincttheadvantagehissurly,unpolishedattitudeofasavagefightergavehimamongstalltheserefinedBlancoaristocrats.Butwhywasitthatnobodywaslookingathim?hewonderedtohimselfangrily.Hewasabletospellouttheprintofnewspapers,andknewthathehadperformedthe“greatestmilitaryexploitofmoderntimes.”
“Myhusbandwantedtherailway,”Mrs.GouldsaidtoSirJohninthegeneralmurmurofresumedconversations.“Allthisbringsnearerthesortoffuturewedesireforthecountry,whichhaswaitedforitinsorrowlongenough,Godknows.ButIwillconfessthattheotherday,duringmyafternoondrivewhenIsuddenlysawanIndianboyrideoutofawoodwiththeredflagofasurveyingpartyinhishand,Ifeltsomethingofashock.Thefuturemeanschange—anutterchange.Andyetevenheretherearesimpleandpicturesquethingsthatonewouldliketopreserve.”
SirJohnlistened,smiling.ButitwashisturnnowtohushMrs.Gould.
“GeneralMonteroisgoingtospeak,”hewhispered,andalmostimmediatelyadded,incomicalarm,“Heavens!he’sgoingtoproposemyownhealth,Ibelieve.
