Ностромо
Chapter 4
Hecoloureduptotheeyes,andstaredatGiorgioViola,whohadfallenbackwiththechildren,hatinhand.
“Ishallwantahorsepresently,”hesaidwithsomeasperitytotheoldman.
“Si,senor.Thereareplentyofhorses,”murmuredtheGaribaldino,smoothingabsently,withhisbrownhands,thetwoheads,onedarkwithbronzeglints,theotherfairwithacopperyripple,ofthetwogirlsbyhisside.Thereturningstreamofsightseersraisedagreatdustontheroad.Horsemennoticedthegroup.“Gotoyourmother,”hesaid.“TheyaregrowingupasIamgrowingolder,andthereisnobody—”
Helookedattheyoungengineerandstopped,asifawakenedfromadream;then,foldinghisarmsonhisbreast,tookuphisusualposition,leaningbackinthedoorwaywithanupwardglancefastenedonthewhiteshoulderofHiguerotafaraway.
InthecarriageMartinDecoud,shiftinghispositionasthoughhecouldnotmakehimselfcomfortable,mutteredasheswayedtowardsAntonia,“Isupposeyouhateme.”TheninaloudvoicehebegantocongratulateDonJoseuponalltheengineersbeingconvincedRibierists.Theinterestofallthoseforeignerswasgratifying.“Youhaveheardthisone.Heisanenlightenedwell-wisher.ItispleasanttothinkthattheprosperityofCostaguanaisofsomeusetotheworld.”
“Heisveryyoung,”Mrs.Gouldremarked,quietly.
“Andsoverywiseforhisage,”retortedDecoud.
