Ностромо
Chapter 8
Therewillbenomorepopularfeastsheldhere.”
Mrs.Gouldwasrathersorrytothinkso.ShetookthisopportunitytomentionhowshehadjustobtainedfromSirJohnthepromisethatthehouseoccupiedbyGiorgioViolashouldnotbeinterferedwith.Shedeclaredshecouldneverunderstandwhythesurveyengineersevertalkedofdemolishingthatoldbuilding.Itwasnotinthewayoftheprojectedharbourbranchofthelineintheleast.
ShestoppedthecarriagebeforethedoortoreassureatoncetheoldGenoese,whocameoutbare-headedandstoodbythecarriagestep.ShetalkedtohiminItalian,ofcourse,andhethankedherwithcalmdignity.AnoldGaribaldinowasgratefultoherfromthebottomofhisheartforkeepingtheroofovertheheadsofhiswifeandchildren.Hewastoooldtowanderanymore.
“Andisitforever,signora?”heasked.
“Foraslongasyoulike.”
“Bene.Thentheplacemustbenamed,Itwasnotworthwhilebefore.”
Hesmiledruggedly,witharunningtogetherofwrinklesatthecornersofhiseyes.“Ishallsetaboutthepaintingofthenameto-morrow.”
“Andwhatisitgoingtobe,Giorgio?”
“Albergod’ItaliaUna,”saidtheoldGaribaldino,lookingawayforamoment.“Moreinmemoryofthosewhohavedied,”headded,“thanforthecountrystolenfromussoldiersoflibertybythecraftofthataccursedPiedmonteseraceofkingsandministers.
