Ностромо

           Intheelevenmonthsoftheirabsencethefamiliarrooms,recallingateveryglancethewomantowhomhehadgivenallhisloyalty,hadgrownintolerable.AsthedayapproachedforthearrivalofthemailboatHermes(thelatestadditiontotheO.S.N.Co.‘ssplendidfleet),thedoctorhobbledaboutmorevivaciously,snappedmoresardonicallyatsimpleandgentleoutofsheernervousness.

           Hepackeduphismodesttrunkwithspeed,withfury,withenthusiasm,andsawitcarriedoutpasttheoldporteratthegateoftheCasaGouldwithdelight,withintoxication;then,asthehourapproached,sittingaloneinthegreatlandaubehindthewhitemules,alittlesideways,hisdrawn-infacepositivelyvenomouswiththeeffortofself-control,andholdingapairofnewglovesinhislefthand,hedrovetotheharbour.

           Hisheartdilatedwithinhimso,whenhesawtheGouldsonthedeckoftheHermes,thathisgreetingswerereducedtoacasualmutter.Drivingbacktotown,allthreeweresilent.Andinthepatiothedoctor,inamorenaturalmanner,said—

           “I’llleaveyounowtoyourselves.I’llcallto-morrowifImay?”

           “Cometolunch,dearDr.Monygham,andcomeearly,”saidMrs.Gould,inhertravellingdressandherveildown,turningtolookathimatthefootofthestairs;whileatthetopoftheflighttheMadonna,inbluerobesandtheChildonherarm,seemedtowelcomeherwithanaspectofpityingtenderness.