Ностромо
Chapter 6
”“Oh,hedidn’tboast,”Mrs.Goulddeclared,scrupulously.“Ibelievehe’sreallyagoodman,butsostupid!ApoorChulowhooffersalittlesilverarmorlegtothankhisgodforacureisasrationalandmoretouching.”
“He’sattheheadofimmensesilverandironinterests,”CharlesGouldobserved.
“Ah,yes!Thereligionofsilverandiron.He’saverycivilman,thoughhelookedawfullysolemnwhenhefirstsawtheMadonnaonthestaircase,who’sonlywoodandpaint;buthesaidnothingtome.MydearCharley,Iheardthosementalkamongthemselves.Canitbethattheyreallywishtobecome,foranimmenseconsideration,drawersofwaterandhewersofwoodtoallthecountriesandnationsoftheearth?”
“Amanmustworktosomeend,”CharlesGouldsaid,vaguely.
Mrs.Gould,frowning,surveyedhimfromheadtofoot.Withhisridingbreeches,leatherleggings(anarticleofapparelneverbeforeseeninCostaguana),aNorfolkcoatofgreyflannel,andthosegreatflamingmoustaches,hesuggestedanofficerofcavalryturnedgentlemanfarmer.ThiscombinationwasgratifyingtoMrs.Gould’stastes.“Howthinthepoorboyis!”shethought.“Heoverworkshimself.”Buttherewasnodenyingthathisfine-drawn,keenredface,andhiswhole,long-limbed,lankpersonhadanairofbreedinganddistinction.AndMrs.Gouldrelented.
“Ionlywonderedwhatyoufelt,”shemurmured,gently.
