Ностромо
Chapter 4
Thegeneralmadeamovementofimpatience;theotherwentontalkingtohiminsistently,withanairofrespect.ThehorsesoftheStaffhadbeenembarked,thesteamer’sgigwasawaitingthegeneralattheboatsteps;andBarrios,afterafiercestareofhisoneeye,begantotakeleave.DonJoserousedhimselfforanappropriatephrasepronouncedmechanically.Theterriblestrainofhopeandfearwastellingonhim,andheseemedtohusbandthelastsparksofhisfireforthoseoratoricaleffortsofwhicheventhedistantEuropewastohear.Antonia,herredlipsfirmlyclosed,avertedherheadbehindtheraisedfan;andyoungDecoud,thoughhefeltthegirl’seyesuponhim,gazedawaypersistently,hookedonhiselbow,withascornfulandcompletedetachment.Mrs.Gouldheroicallyconcealedherdismayattheappearanceofmenandeventssoremotefromherracialconventions,dismaytoodeeptobeutteredinwordseventoherhusband.Sheunderstoodhisvoicelessreservebetternow.Theirconfidentialintercoursefell,notinmomentsofprivacy,butpreciselyinpublic,whenthequickmeetingoftheirglanceswouldcommentuponsomefreshturnofevents.Shehadgonetohisschoolofuncompromisingsilence,theonlyonepossible,sincesomuchthatseemedshocking,weird,andgrotesqueintheworkingoutoftheirpurposeshadtobeacceptedasnormalinthiscountry.Decidedly,thestatelyAntonialookedmorematureandinfinitelycalm;butshewouldneverhaveknownhowtoreconcilethesuddensinkingsofherheartwithanamiablemobilityofexpression.
