Ностромо
Chapter 12
“Ramireztoldyouhelovedyou?”askedNostromo,restraininghimself.
“Ah!once—oneevening...”
“Themiserable...Ha!”
Hehadjumpedupasifstungbyagad-fly,andstoodbeforehermutewithanger.
“MisericordiaDivina!You,too,Gian’Battista!PoorwretchthatIam!”shelamentediningenuoustones.“ItoldLinda,andshescolded—shescolded.AmItoliveblind,dumb,anddeafinthisworld?Andshetoldfather,whotookdownhisgunandcleanedit.PoorRamirez!Thenyoucame,andshetoldyou.”
Helookedather.Hefastenedhiseyesuponthehollowofherwhitethroat,whichhadtheinvinciblecharmofthingsyoung,palpitating,delicate,andalive.Wasthisthechildhehadknown?Wasitpossible?Itdawneduponhimthatintheselastyearshehadreallyseenverylittle—nothing—ofher.Nothing.Shehadcomeintotheworldlikeathingunknown.Shehadcomeuponhimunawares.Shewasadanger.Afrightfuldanger.Theinstinctivemoodoffiercedeterminationthathadneverfailedhimbeforetheperilsofthislifeaddeditssteadyforcetotheviolenceofhispassion.She,inavoicethatrecalledtohimthesongofrunningwater,thetinklingofasilverbell,continued—
“Andbetweenyouthreeyouhavebroughtmehereintothiscaptivitytotheskyandwater.Nothingelse.Skyandwater.Oh,SanctissimaMadre.Myhairshallturngreyonthistediousisland.
