Ностромо

           “Iamafraidofbeingoverwhelmedbytoomuchgratitude.However,thesepeopleinterestme.IwentoutseveraltimestotheGreatIsabellighttolookafteroldGiorgio.”

           HedidnottellMrs.Gouldthatitwasbecausehefoundthere,inherabsence,thereliefofanatmosphereofcongenialsentimentinoldGiorgio’saustereadmirationforthe“Englishsignora—thebenefactress”;inblack-eyedLinda’svoluble,torrential,passionateaffectionfor“ourDonaEmilia—thatangel”;inthewhite-throated,fairGiselle’sadoringupwardturnoftheeyes,whichthenglidedtowardshimwithasidelong,half-arch,half-candidglance,whichmadethedoctorexclaimtohimselfmentally,“IfIweren’twhatIam,oldandugly,Iwouldthinktheminxismakingeyesatme.Andperhapssheis.Idaresayshewouldmakeeyesatanybody.”Dr.MonyghamsaidnothingofthistoMrs.Gould,theprovidenceoftheViolafamily,butrevertedtowhathecalled“ourgreatNostromo.”

           “WhatIwantedtotellyouisthis:OurgreatNostromodidnottakemuchnoticeoftheoldmanandthechildrenforsomeyears.It’strue,too,thathewasawayonhiscoastingvoyagescertainlytenmonthsoutofthetwelve.Hewasmakinghisfortune,ashetoldCaptainMitchellonce.Heseemstohavedoneuncommonlywell.Itwasonlytobeexpected.Heisamanfullofresource,fullofconfidenceinhimself,readytotakechancesandrisksofeverysort.