Ностромо
Chapter 4
Themenattheheadofthemovementaredeadorhavefled;thecivilorganizationoftheprovinceisatanendforthepresent;theBlancopartyinSulacohascollapsedinexcusably,butinthecharacteristicmannerofthiscountry.ButBarrios,untouchedinCayta,remainsstillavailable.IamforcedtotakeupopenlytheplanofaprovincialrevolutionastheonlywayofplacingtheenormousmaterialinterestsinvolvedintheprosperityandpeaceofSulacoinapositionofpermanentsafety....”Thatwasclear.Hesawthesewordsasifwritteninlettersoffireuponthewallatwhichhewasgazingabstractedly.
MrsGouldwatchedhisabstractionwithdread.Itwasadomesticandfrightfulphenomenonthatdarkenedandchilledthehouseforherlikeathundercloudpassingoverthesun.CharlesGould’sfitsofabstractiondepictedtheenergeticconcentrationofawillhauntedbyafixedidea.Amanhauntedbyafixedideaisinsane.Heisdangerousevenifthatideaisanideaofjustice;formayhenotbringtheheavendownpitilesslyuponalovedhead?TheeyesofMrs.Gould,watchingherhusband’sprofile,filledwithtearsagain.AndagainsheseemedtoseethedespairoftheunfortunateAntonia.
“WhatwouldIhavedoneifCharleyhadbeendrownedwhilewewereengaged?”sheexclaimed,mentally,withhorror.Herheartturnedtoice,whilehercheeksflamedupasifscorchedbytheblazeofafuneralpyreconsumingallherearthlyaffections.Thetearsburstoutofhereyes.
