Ностромо

           HewasattractedbyGiselle,withhercandidgazeandwhitethroat,pliable,silent,fondofexcitementunderherquietindolence;whereasLinda,withherintense,passionatelypaleface,energetic,allfireandwords,touchedwithgloomandscorn,achipoftheoldblock,truedaughteroftheaustererepublican,butwithTeresa’svoice,inspiredhimwithadeep-seatedmistrust.Moreover,thepoorgirlcouldnotconcealherloveforGian’Battista.Hecouldseeitwouldbeviolent,exacting,suspicious,uncompromising—likehersoul.Giselle,byherfairbutwarmbeauty,bythesurfaceplacidityofhernatureholdingapromiseofsubmissiveness,bythecharmofhergirlishmysteriousness,excitedhispassionandallayedhisfearsastothefuture.

           HisabsencesfromSulacowerelong.Onreturningfromthelongestofthem,hemadeoutlightersloadedwithblocksofstonelyingunderthecliffoftheGreatIsabel;cranesandscaffoldingabove;workmen’sfiguresmovingabout,andasmalllighthousealreadyrisingfromitsfoundationsontheedgeofthecliff.

           Atthisunexpected,undreamt-of,startlingsight,hethoughthimselflostirretrievably.Whatcouldsavehimfromdetectionnow?Nothing!Hewasstruckwithamazeddreadatthisturnofchance,thatwouldkindleafar-reachinglightupontheonlysecretspotofhislife;thatlifewhoseveryessence,value,reality,consistedinitsreflectionfromtheadmiringeyesofmen.