Ностромо
Chapter 12
Hewouldaskhimforhisdaughternow.HethoughtofGiselleashepulled.Lindalovedhim,perhaps,buttheoldmanwouldbegladtokeeptheelder,whohadhiswife’svoice.
HedidnotpullforthenarrowstrandwherehehadlandedwithDecoud,andafterwardsaloneonhisfirstvisittothetreasure.Hemadeforthebeachattheotherend,andwalkeduptheregularandgentleslopeofthewedge-shapedisland.GiorgioViola,whomhesawfromafar,sittingonabenchunderthefrontwallofthecottage,liftedhisarmslightlytohisloudhail.Hewalkedup.Neitherofthegirlsappeared.
“Itisgoodhere,”saidtheoldman,inhisaustere,far-awaymanner.
Nostromonodded;then,afterashortsilence—
“Yousawmyschoonerpassinnottwohoursago?DoyouknowwhyIamherebefore,sotospeak,myanchorhasfairlybittenintothegroundofthisportofSulaco?”
“Youarewelcomelikeason,”theoldmandeclared,quietly,staringawayuponthesea.
“Ah!thyson.Iknow.Iamwhatthysonwouldhavebeen.Itiswell,viejo.Itisaverygoodwelcome.Listen,Ihavecometoaskyoufor——”
AsuddendreadcameuponthefearlessandincorruptibleNostromo.Hedarednotutterthenameinhismind.Theslightpauseonlyimpartedamarkedweightandsolemnitytothechangedendofthephrase.
“Formywife!”...Hisheartwasbeatingfast.
