Ностромо

           Itwasnotfromanylikingforthedoctorthattheengineer-in-chiefhadlingeredintheinnupontheplain.HelikedoldViolamuchbetter.HehadcometolookupontheAlbergod’ltaliaUnaasadependenceoftherailway.Manyofhissubordinateshadtheirquartersthere.Mrs.Gould’sinterestinthefamilyconferreduponitasortofdistinction.Theengineer-in-chief,withanarmyofworkersunderhisorders,appreciatedthemoralinfluenceoftheoldGaribaldinouponhiscountrymen.Hisaustere,old-worldRepublicanismhadasevere,soldier-likestandardoffaithfulnessandduty,asiftheworldwereabattlefieldwheremenhadtofightforthesakeofuniversalloveandbrotherhood,insteadofamoreorlesslargeshareofbooty.

           “Pooroldchap!”hesaid,afterhehadheardthedoctor’saccountofTeresa.“He’llneverbeabletokeeptheplacegoingbyhimself.Ishallbesorry.”

           “He’squitealoneupthere,”gruntedDoctorMonygham,withatossofhisheavyheadtowardsthenarrowstaircase.“Everylivingsoulhasclearedout,andMrs.Gouldtookthegirlsawayjustnow.Itmightnotbeover-safeforthemoutherebeforeverylong.Ofcourse,asadoctorIcandonothingmorehere;butshehasaskedmetostaywitholdViola,andasIhavenohorsetogetbacktothemine,whereIoughttobe,Imadenodifficultytostay.Theycandowithoutmeinthetown.