Ностромо
Chapter 8
Asyouweresaying,itismyownaffair.Averydesperateaffair.”
“Therearenotwomeninthispartoftheworldthatcouldhavesavedthemselvesbyswimmingasyouhavedone,”thedoctorsaid,admiringly.
Andagaintherewassilencebetweenthosetwomen.Theywerebothreflecting,andthediversityoftheirnaturesmadetheirthoughtsbornfromtheirmeetingswingafarfromeachother.Thedoctor,impelledtoriskyactionbyhisloyaltytotheGoulds,wonderedwiththankfulnessatthechainofaccidentwhichhadbroughtthatmanbackwherehewouldbeofthegreatestuseintheworkofsavingtheSanTomemine.Thedoctorwasloyaltothemine.Itpresenteditselftohisfifty-years’oldeyesintheshapeofalittlewomaninasoftdresswithalongtrain,withaheadattractivelyoverweightedbyagreatmassoffairhairandthedelicatepreciousnessofherinnerworth,partakingofagemandaflower,revealedineveryattitudeofherperson.AsthedangersthickenedroundtheSanTomeminethisillusionacquiredforce,permanency,andauthority.Itclaimedhimatlast!Thisclaim,exaltedbyaspiritualdetachmentfromtheusualsanctionsofhopeandreward,madeDr.Monygham’sthinking,acting,individualityextremelydangeroustohimselfandtoothers,allhisscruplesvanishingintheproudfeelingthathisdevotionwastheonlythingthatstoodbetweenanadmirablewomanandafrightfuldisaster.
