Ностромо

           Amongsthisotheractivitiesofthatstirringtime,DonJosehadbecomethechairmanofaPatrioticCommitteewhichhadarmedagreatproportionoftroopsintheSulacocommandwithanimprovedmodelofamilitaryrifle.IthadbeenjustdiscardedforsomethingstillmoredeadlybyoneofthegreatEuropeanpowers.Howmuchofthemarket-priceforsecond-handweaponswascoveredbythevoluntarycontributionsoftheprincipalfamilies,andhowmuchcamefromthosefundsDonJosewasunderstoodtocommandabroad,remainedasecretwhichhealonecouldhavedisclosed;buttheRicos,asthepopulacecalledthem,hadcontributedunderthepressureoftheirNestor’seloquence.Someofthemoreenthusiasticladieshadbeenmovedtobringofferingsofjewelsintothehandsofthemanwhowasthelifeandsouloftheparty.

           Thereweremomentswhenbothhislifeandhissoulseemedovertaxedbysomanyyearsofundiscouragedbeliefinregeneration.Heappearedalmostinanimate,sittingrigidlybythesideofMrs.Gouldinthelandau,withhisfine,old,clean-shavenfaceofauniformtintasifmodelledinyellowwax,shadedbyasoftfelthat,thedarkeyeslookingoutfixedly.Antonia,thebeautifulAntonia,asMissAvellanoswascalledinSulaco,leanedback,facingthem;andherfullfigure,thegraveovalofherfacewithfullredlips,madeherlookmorematurethanMrs.Gould,withhermobileexpressionandsmall,erectpersonunderaslightlyswayingsunshade