Ностромо

           Shewould—inherownwords—havebeenforthem“somethingofamonster.”However,theGouldswereinessentialsareticentcouple,andtheirguestsdepartedwithoutthesuspicionofanyotherpurposebutsimpleprofitintheworkingofasilvermine.Mrs.Gouldhadoutherowncarriage,withtwowhitemules,todrivethemdowntotheharbour,whencetheCereswastocarrythemoffintotheOlympusofplutocrats.CaptainMitchellhadsnatchedattheoccasionofleave-takingtoremarktoMrs.Gould,inalow,confidentialmutter,“Thismarksanepoch.”

           Mrs.GouldlovedthepatioofherSpanishhouse.AbroadflightofstonestepswasoverlookedsilentlyfromanicheinthewallbyaMadonnainbluerobeswiththecrownedchildsittingonherarm.Subduedvoicesascendedintheearlymorningsfromthepavedwellofthequadrangle,withthestampingofhorsesandmulesledoutinpairstodrinkatthecistern.Atangleofslenderbamboostemsdroopeditsnarrow,blade-likeleavesoverthesquarepoolofwater,andthefatcoachmansatmuffledupontheedge,holdinglazilytheendsofhaltersinhishand.Barefootedservantspassedtoandfro,issuingfromdark,lowdoorwaysbelow;twolaundrygirlswithbasketsofwashedlinen;thebakerwiththetrayofbreadmadefortheday;Leonarda—herowncamerista—bearinghighup,swungfromherhandraisedaboveherravenblackhead,abunchofstarchedunder-skirtsdazzlinglywhiteintheslantofsunshine.