Ностромо
Chapter 8
”
Mrs.Gouldsmiledslightly,and,bendingoveralittle,begantoinquireabouthiswifeandchildren.Hehadsentthemintotownonthatday.Thepadronawasbetterinhealth;manythankstothesignoraforinquiring.
Peoplewerepassingintwosandthrees,inwholepartiesofmenandwomenattendedbytrottingchildren.Ahorsemanmountedonasilver-greymaredrewreinquietlyintheshadeofthehouseaftertakingoffhishattothepartyinthecarriage,whoreturnedsmilesandfamiliarnods.OldViola,evidentlyverypleasedwiththenewshehadjustheard,interruptedhimselfforamomenttotellhimrapidlythatthehousewassecured,bythekindnessoftheEnglishsignora,foraslongashelikedtokeepit.Theotherlistenedattentively,butmadenoresponse.
Whenthecarriagemovedonhetookoffhishatagain,agreysombrerowithasilvercordandtassels.ThebrightcoloursofaMexicanserapetwistedonthecantle,theenormoussilverbuttonsontheembroideredleatherjacket,therowoftinysilverbuttonsdowntheseamofthetrousers,thesnowylinen,asilksashwithembroideredends,thesilverplatesonheadstallandsaddle,proclaimedtheunapproachablestyleofthefamousCapatazdeCargadores—aMediterraneansailor—gotupwithmorefinishedsplendourthananywell-to-doyoungrancherooftheCampohadeverdisplayedonahighholiday.
“Itisagreatthingforme,”murmuredoldGiorgio,stillthinkingofthehouse,fornowhehadgrownwearyofchange.
