Ностромо
Chapter 4
Theblacklaceshawlsheusedtodrapeaboutherfacehaddroppedtothegroundbyherside.Thetwogirlshadgotup,hand-in-hand,inshortskirts,theirloosehairfallingindisorder.Theyoungerhadthrownherarmacrosshereyes,asifafraidtofacethelight.Linda,withherhandontheother’sshoulder,staredfearlessly.Violalookedathischildren.Thesunbroughtoutthedeeplinesonhisface,and,energeticinexpression,ithadtheimmobilityofacarving.Itwasimpossibletodiscoverwhathethought.Bushygreyeyebrowsshadedhisdarkglance.
“Well!Anddoyounotpraylikeyourmother?”
Lindapouted,advancingherredlips,whichwerealmosttoored;butshehadadmirableeyes,brown,withasparkleofgoldintheirises,fullofintelligenceandmeaning,andsoclearthattheyseemedtothrowaglowuponherthin,colourlessface.Therewerebronzeglintsinthesombreclustersofherhair,andtheeyelashes,longandcoalblack,madehercomplexionappearstillmorepale.
“Motherisgoingtoofferupalotofcandlesinthechurch.ShealwaysdoeswhenNostromohasbeenawayfighting.IshallhavesometocarryuptotheChapeloftheMadonnaintheCathedral.”
Shesaidallthisquickly,withgreatassurance,inananimated,penetratingvoice.Then,givinghersister’sshoulderaslightshake,sheadded—
“Andshewillbemadetocarryone,too!”
“Whymade?”inquiredGiorgio,gravely.
