Ностромо
Chapter 6
ApartfromsometenthousandpoundsdepositedinEngland,thereappearedtobenothingleftexceptthehouseinSulaco,avaguerightofforestexploitationinaremoteandsavagedistrict,andtheSanTomeConcession,whichhadattendedhispoorfathertotheverybrinkofthegrave.
Heexplainedthosethings.Itwaslatewhentheyparted.Shehadneverbeforegivenhimsuchafascinatingvisionofherself.Alltheeagernessofyouthforastrangelife,forgreatdistances,forafutureinwhichtherewasanairofadventure,ofcombat—asubtlethoughtofredressandconquest,hadfilledherwithanintenseexcitement,whichshereturnedtothegiverwithamoreopenandexquisitedisplayoftenderness.
Helefthertowalkdownthehill,anddirectlyhefoundhimselfalonehebecamesober.Thatirreparablechangeadeathmakesinthecourseofourdailythoughtscanbefeltinavagueandpoignantdiscomfortofmind.IthurtCharlesGouldtofeelthatnevermore,bynoeffortofwill,wouldhebeabletothinkofhisfatherinthesamewayheusedtothinkofhimwhenthepoormanwasalive.Hisbreathingimagewasnolongerinhispower.Thisconsideration,closelyaffectinghisownidentity,filledhisbreastwithamournfulandangrydesireforaction.Inthishisinstinctwasunerring.Actionisconsolatory.Itistheenemyofthoughtandthefriendofflatteringillusions.OnlyintheconductofouractioncanwefindthesenseofmasteryovertheFates.Forhisaction,theminewasobviouslytheonlyfield.
