Ностромо
Chapter 6
Gould,areyouawaretowhatpointhehasidealizedtheexistence,theworth,themeaningoftheSanTomemine?Areyouawareofit?”
Hemusthaveknownwhathewastalkingabout.
Theeffectheexpectedwasproduced.Mrs.Gould,readytotakefire,gaveitupsuddenlywithalowlittlesoundthatresembledamoan.
“Whatdoyouknow?”sheaskedinafeeblevoice.
“Nothing,”answeredDecoud,firmly.“But,then,don’tyousee,he’sanEnglishman?”
“Well,whatofthat?”askedMrs.Gould.
“Simplythathecannotactorexistwithoutidealizingeverysimplefeeling,desire,orachievement.Hecouldnotbelievehisownmotivesifhedidnotmakethemfirstapartofsomefairytale.Theearthisnotquitegoodenoughforhim,Ifear.Doyouexcusemyfrankness?Besides,whetheryouexcuseitornot,itispartofthetruthofthingswhichhurtsthe—whatdoyoucallthem?—theAnglo-Saxon’ssusceptibilities,andatthepresentmomentIdon’tfeelasifIcouldtreatseriouslyeitherhisconceptionofthingsor—ifyouallowmetosayso—oryetyours.”
Mrs.Gouldgavenosignofbeingoffended.“IsupposeAntoniaunderstandsyouthoroughly?”
“Understands?Well,yes.ButIamnotsurethatsheapproves.That,however,makesnodifference.Iamhonestenoughtotellyouthat,Mrs.Gould.”
“Youridea,ofcourse,isseparation,”shesaid.
