Ностромо
Chapter 3
Henotonlyneverbreathedawordofthemtoanyone,butonlyafortnightlateraskedthemistressoftheCasaGould(wherehehadofcourseobtainedadmissionatonce),leaningforwardinhischairwithanairofwell-bredfamiliarity,whethershecouldnotdetectinhimthatdayamarkedchange—anair,heexplained,ofmoreexcellentgravity.AtthisMrs.Gouldturnedherfacefulltowardshimwiththesilentinquiryofslightlywidenedeyesandthemerestghostofasmile,anhabitualmovementwithher,whichwasveryfascinatingtomenbysomethingsubtlydevoted,finelyself-forgetfulinitslivelyreadinessofattention.Because,Decoudcontinuedimperturbably,hefeltnolongeranidlecumbereroftheearth.Shewas,heassuredher,actuallybeholdingatthatmomenttheJournalistofSulaco.AtonceMrs.GouldglancedtowardsAntonia,poseduprightinthecornerofahigh,straight-backedSpanishsofa,alargeblackfanwavingslowlyagainstthecurvesofherfinefigure,thetipsofcrossedfeetpeepingfromunderthehemoftheblackskirt.Decoud’seyesalsoremainedfixedthere,whileinanundertoneheaddedthatMissAvellanoswasquiteawareofhisnewandunexpectedvocation,whichinCostaguanawasgenerallythespecialityofhalf-educatednegroesandwhollypennilesslawyers.Then,confrontingwithasortofurbaneeffronteryMrs.
