Ностромо
Chapter 4
TheIndiangirls,withhairlikeflowingblackmanes,anddressedonlyinashiftandshortpetticoat,stareddullyfromunderthesquare-cutfringesontheirforeheads;thenoisyfrizzlingoffathadstopped,thefumesfloatedupwardsinsunshine,astrongsmellofburntonionshunginthedrowsyheat,envelopingthehouse;andtheeyelostitselfinavastflatexpanseofgrasstothewest,asiftheplainbetweentheSierraovertoppingSulacoandthecoastrangeawaytheretowardsEsmeraldahadbeenasbigashalftheworld.
SignoraTeresa,afteranimpressivepause,remonstrated—
“Eh,Giorgio!LeaveCavouraloneandtakecareofyourselfnowwearelostinthiscountryallalonewiththetwochildren,becauseyoucannotliveunderaking.”
Andwhileshelookedathimshewouldsometimesputherhandhastilytohersidewithashorttwitchofherfinelipsandaknittingofherblack,straighteyebrowslikeaflickerofangrypainoranangrythoughtonherhandsome,regularfeatures.
Itwaspain;shesuppressedthetwinge.IthadcometoherfirstafewyearsaftertheyhadleftItalytoemigratetoAmericaandsettleatlastinSulacoafterwanderingfromtowntotown,tryingshopkeepinginasmallwayhereandthere;andonceanorganizedenterpriseoffishing—inMaldonado—forGiorgio,likethegreatGaribaldi,hadbeenasailorinhistime.
Sometimesshehadnopatiencewithpain.
