Ностромо

           HeacceptedwithalikecalmtheshockingmannerinwhichtheSulacoladiessmotheredtheirfaceswithpearlpowdertilltheylookedlikewhiteplastercastswithbeautifullivingeyes,thepeculiargossipofthetown,andthecontinuouspoliticalchanges,theconstant“savingofthecountry,”whichtohiswifeseemedapuerileandbloodthirstygameofmurderandrapineplayedwithterribleearnestnessbydepravedchildren.IntheearlydaysofherCostaguanalife,thelittleladyusedtoclenchherhandswithexasperationatnotbeingabletotakethepublicaffairsofthecountryasseriouslyastheincidentalatrocityofmethodsdeserved.Shesawinthemacomedyofnaivepretences,buthardlyanythinggenuineexceptherownappalledindignation.Charles,veryquietandtwistinghislongmoustaches,woulddeclinetodiscussthematall.Once,however,heobservedtohergently—

           “Mydear,youseemtoforgetthatIwasbornhere.”Thesefewwordsmadeherpauseasiftheyhadbeenasuddenrevelation.Perhapsthemerefactofbeingborninthecountrydidmakeadifference.Shehadagreatconfidenceinherhusband;ithadalwaysbeenverygreat.Hehadstruckherimaginationfromthefirstbyhisunsentimentalism,bythatveryquietudeofmindwhichshehaderectedinherthoughtforasignofperfectcompetencyinthebusinessofliving.