Ностромо
Chapter 3
Everyaccessionaddedtopublicconfidence,and,besides,whatanexampletotheyoungmenathomefromthebrilliantdefenderofthecountry’sregeneration,theworthyexpounderoftheparty’spoliticalfaithbeforetheworld!EverybodyhadreadthemagnificentarticleinthefamousParisianReview.Theworldwasnowinformed:andtheauthor’sappearanceatthismomentwaslikeapublicactoffaith.YoungDecoudfeltovercomebyafeelingofimpatientconfusion.HisplanhadbeentoreturnbywayoftheUnitedStatesthroughCalifornia,visitYellowstonePark,seeChicago,Niagara,havealookatCanada,perhapsmakeashortstayinNewYork,alongeroneinNewport,usehislettersofintroduction.ThepressureofAntonia’shandwassofrank,thetoneofhervoicewassounexpectedlyunchangedinitsapprovingwarmth,thatallhefoundtosayafterhislowbowwas—
“Iaminexpressiblygratefulforyourwelcome;butwhyneedamanbethankedforreturningtohisnativecountry?IamsureDonaAntoniadoesnotthinkso.”
“Certainlynot,senor,”shesaid,withthatperfectlycalmopennessofmannerwhichcharacterizedallherutterances.“Butwhenhereturns,asyoureturn,onemaybeglad—forthesakeofboth.”
MartinDecoudsaidnothingofhisplans.
