Ностромо
Chapter 6
Itwasonlywhen,turningsuddenlytoher,heblurtedouttwice,“I’vecometoyou—I’vecomestraighttoyou—”withoutbeingabletofinishhisphrase,thatthegreatpitifulnessofthatlonelyandtormenteddeathinCostaguanacametoherwiththefullforceofitsmisery.Hecaughtholdofherhand,raisedittohislips,andatthatshedroppedherparasoltopathimonthecheek,murmured“Poorboy,”andbegantodryhereyesunderthedownwardcurveofherhat-brim,verysmallinhersimple,whitefrock,almostlikealostchildcryinginthedegradedgrandeurofthenoblehall,whilehestoodbyher,againperfectlymotionlessinthecontemplationofthemarbleurn.
Afterwardstheywentoutforalongwalk,whichwassilenttillheexclaimedsuddenly—
“Yes.Butifhehadonlygrappledwithitinaproperway!”
Andthentheystopped.Everywheretherewerelongshadowslyingonthehills,ontheroads,ontheenclosedfieldsofolivetrees;theshadowsofpoplars,ofwidechestnuts,offarmbuildings,ofstonewalls;andinmid-airthesoundofabell,thinandalert,waslikethethrobbingpulseofthesunsetglow.Herlipswereslightlypartedasthoughinsurprisethatheshouldnotbelookingatherwithhisusualexpression.Hisusualexpressionwasunconditionallyapprovingandattentive.Hewasinhistalkswithherthemostanxiousanddeferentialofdictators,anattitudethatpleasedherimmensely.Itaffirmedherpowerwithoutdetractingfromhisdignity.
