Ностромо
Chapter 13
Whatarewetodo?Itlooksasthoughfatherandsisterhad——”
Mrs.Gouldadmittedthatshefeltindutyboundtodoherbestforthesegirls.
“Ihaveavolantehere,”thedoctorsaid.“Ifyoudon’tmindgettingintothat——”
Hewaited,allimpatience,tillMrs.Gouldreappeared,havingthrownoverherdressagreycloakwithadeephood.
Itwasthusthat,cloakedandmonasticallyhoodedoverhereveningcostume,thiswoman,fullofenduranceandcompassion,stoodbythesideofthebedonwhichthesplendidCapatazdeCargadoreslaystretchedoutmotionlessonhisback.Thewhitenessofsheetsandpillowsgaveasombreandenergeticrelieftohisbronzed.face,tothedark,nervoushands,sogoodonatiller,uponabridleandonatrigger,lyingopenandidleuponawhitecoverlet.
“Sheisinnocent,”theCapatazwassayinginadeepandlevelvoice,asthoughafraidthatalouderwordwouldbreaktheslenderholdhisspiritstillkeptuponhisbody.“Sheisinnocent.ItisIalone.Butnomatter.ForthesethingsIwouldanswertonomanorwomanalive.”
Hepaused.Mrs.Gould’sface,verywhitewithintheshadowofthehood,bentoverhimwithaninvincibleanddrearysadness.AndthelowsobsofGiselleViola,kneelingattheendofthebed,hergoldhairwithcopperygleamslooseandscatteredovertheCapataz’sfeet,hardlytroubledthesilenceoftheroom.
