Ностромо
Chapter 7
Themountedfiguresofvaquerosgallopedinthedistance,andthegreatherdsfedwithalltheirhornedheadsoneway,inonesinglewaveringlineasfaraseyecouldreachacrossthebroadpotreros.Aspreadingcotton-wooltreeshadedathatchedranchebytheroad;thetrudgingfilesofburdenedIndianstakingofftheirhats,wouldliftsad,muteeyestothecavalcaderaisingthedustofthecrumblingcaminorealmadebythehandsoftheirenslavedforefathers.AndMrs.Gould,witheachday’sjourney,seemedtocomenearertothesoulofthelandinthetremendousdisclosureofthisinteriorunaffectedbytheslightEuropeanveneerofthecoasttowns,agreatlandofplainandmountainandpeople,sufferingandmute,waitingforthefutureinapatheticimmobilityofpatience.
Sheknewitssightsanditshospitality,dispensedwithasortofslumbrousdignityinthosegreathousespresentinglong,blindwallsandheavyportalstothewind-sweptpastures.Shewasgiventheheadofthetables,wheremastersanddependantssatinasimpleandpatriarchalstate.Theladiesofthehousewouldtalksoftlyinthemoonlightundertheorangetreesofthecourtyards,impressinguponherthesweetnessoftheirvoicesandthesomethingmysteriousinthequietudeoftheirlives.
