Ностромо
Chapter 6
Idon’tsupposethat,evenfromthefirst,therewasreallyanypossiblewayback.And,what’smore,wecan’tevenaffordtostandstill.”
“Ah,ifoneonlyknewhowfaryoumeantogo,”saidhiswife.inwardlytrembling,butinanalmostplayfultone.
“Anydistance,anylength,ofcourse,”wastheanswer,inamatter-of-facttone,whichcausedMrs.Gouldtomakeanotherefforttorepressashudder.
Shestoodup,smilinggraciously,andherlittlefigureseemedtobediminishedstillmorebytheheavymassofherhairandthelongtrainofhergown.
“Butalwaystosuccess,”shesaid,persuasively.
CharlesGould,envelopingherinthesteelyblueglanceofhisattentiveeyes,answeredwithouthesitation—
“Oh,thereisnoalternative.”
Heputanimmenseassuranceintohistone.Astothewords,thiswasallthathisconsciencewouldallowhimtosay.
Mrs.Gould’ssmileremainedashadetoolonguponherlips.Shemurmured—
“Iwillleaveyou;I’veaslightheadache.Theheat,thedust,wereindeed—Isupposeyouaregoingbacktotheminebeforethemorning?”
“Atmidnight,”saidCharlesGould.“Wearebringingdownthesilverto-morrow.ThenIshalltakethreewholedaysoffintownwithyou.”
“Ah,youaregoingtomeettheescort.Ishallbeonthebalconyatfiveo’clocktoseeyoupass.Tillthen,good-bye.
