Ностромо
Chapter 5
”
Histoneremainedlight,andasifunawareofhispresenceshestoodmotionless,herhandsclaspedlightly,thefanhangingdownfromherinterlacedfingers.Hewaitedforawhile,andthen—
“Ishallgotothewall,”hesaid,withasortofjoculardesperation.
Eventhatdeclarationdidnotmakeherlookathim.Herheadremainedstill,hereyesfixeduponthehouseoftheAvellanos,whosechippedpilasters,brokencornices,thewholedegradationofdignitywashiddennowbythegatheringduskofthestreet.Inherwholefigureherlipsalonemoved,formingthewords—
“Martin,youwillmakemecry.”
Heremainedsilentforaminute,startled,asifoverwhelmedbyasortofawedhappiness,withthelinesofthemockingsmilestillstiffenedabouthismouth,andincreduloussurpriseinhiseyes.Thevalueofasentenceisinthepersonalitywhichuttersit,fornothingnewcanbesaidbymanorwoman;andthosewerethelastwords,itseemedtohim,thatcouldeverhavebeenspokenbyAntonia.Hehadnevermadeitupwithhersocompletelyinalltheirintercourseofsmallencounters;butevenbeforeshehadtimetoturntowardshim,whichshedidslowlywitharigidgrace,hehadbeguntoplead—
“Mysisterisonlywaitingtoembraceyou.Myfatheristransportedwithjoy.Iwon’tsayanythingofmymother!Ourmotherswerelikesisters.Thereisthemail-boatforthesouthnextweek—letusgo.
