Ностромо

           And,afterall,hedidnotknowme!Justthinkofit—tenwholeyearsaway;theyearsIwasgrowingupintoaman.Hecouldnotknowme.Doyouthinkhecould?”

           Mrs.Gouldshookherheadnegatively;whichwasjustwhatherhusbandhadexpectedfromthestrengthoftheargument.ButsheshookherheadnegativelyonlybecauseshethoughtthatnoonecouldknowherCharles—reallyknowhimforwhathewasbutherself.Thethingwasobvious.Itcouldbefelt.Itrequirednoargument.AndpoorMr.Gould,senior,whohaddiedtoosoontoeverhearoftheirengagement,remainedtooshadowyafigureforhertobecreditedwithknowledgeofanysortwhatever.

           “No,hedidnotunderstand.Inmyviewthisminecouldneverhavebeenathingtosell.Never!AfterallhismiseryIsimplycouldnothavetoucheditformoneyalone,”CharlesGouldpursued:andshepressedherheadtohisshoulderapprovingly.

           Thesetwoyoungpeoplerememberedthelifewhichhadendedwretchedlyjustwhentheirownliveshadcometogetherinthatsplendourofhopefullove,whichtothemostsensiblemindsappearslikeatriumphofgoodoveralltheevilsoftheearth.Avagueideaofrehabilitationhadenteredtheplanoftheirlife.Thatitwassovagueastoeludethesupportofargumentmadeitonlythestronger.Ithadpresenteditselftothemattheinstantwhenthewoman’sinstinctofdevotionandtheman’sinstinctofactivityreceivefromthestrongestofillusionstheirmostpowerfulimpulse.