Nostromo - A Tale of the Seaboard.pdf - Planet eBook

of feminine and intimate delicacy.Don Jose in his rocking-chair placed his hat on his lap,and Decoud walked up and down the whole length of theroom, passing between tables loaded with knick-knacksand almost disappearing behind the high backs of leathernsofas. He was thinking of the angry face of Antonia; he wasconfident that he would make his peace with her. He hadnot stayed in Sulaco to quarrel with Antonia.Martin Decoud was angry with himself. All he saw andheard going on around him exasperated the preconceivedviews of his European civilization. To contemplate revolutionsfrom the distance of the Parisian Boulevards wasquite another matter. Here on the spot it was not possibleto dismiss their tragic comedy with the expression, ‘Quellefarce!’The reality of the political action, such as it was, seemedcloser, and acquired poignancy by Antonia’s belief in thecause. Its crudeness hurt his feelings. He was surprised athis own sensitiveness.‘I suppose I am more of a Costaguanero than I wouldhave believed possible,’ he thought to himself.His disdain grew like a reaction of his scepticism againstthe action into which he was forced by his infatuation forAntonia. He soothed himself by saying he was not a patriot,but a lover.The ladies came in bareheaded, and Mrs. Gould sank lowbefore the little tea-table. Antonia took up her usual placeat the reception hour—the corner of a leathern couch, witha rigid grace in her pose and a fan in her hand. Decoud,