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

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

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aspect <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world.The latest phase in <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mine Mrs. Gouldknew from personal experience. It was in essence <strong>the</strong> history<strong>of</strong> her married life. The mantle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Goulds’ hereditaryposition in Sulaco had descended amply upon her little person;but she would not allow <strong>the</strong> peculiarities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> strangegarment to weigh down <strong>the</strong> vivacity <strong>of</strong> her character, whichwas <strong>the</strong> sign <strong>of</strong> no mere mechanical sprightliness, but <strong>of</strong> aneager intelligence. It must not be supposed that Mrs. Gould’smind was masculine. A woman with a masculine mind isnot a being <strong>of</strong> superior efficiency; she is simply a phenomenon<strong>of</strong> imperfect differentiation—interestingly barren andwithout importance. Dona Emilia’s intelligence being feminineled her to achieve <strong>the</strong> conquest <strong>of</strong> Sulaco, simply bylighting <strong>the</strong> way for her unselfishness and sympathy. Shecould converse charmingly, but she was not talkative. Thewisdom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> heart having no concern with <strong>the</strong> erectionor demolition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ories any more than with <strong>the</strong> defence<strong>of</strong> prejudices, has no random words at its command. Thewords it pronounces have <strong>the</strong> value <strong>of</strong> acts <strong>of</strong> integrity, tolerance,and compassion. A woman’s true tenderness, like<strong>the</strong> true virility <strong>of</strong> man, is expressed in action <strong>of</strong> a conqueringkind. The ladies <strong>of</strong> Sulaco adored Mrs. Gould. ‘Theystill look upon me as something <strong>of</strong> a monster,’ Mrs. Gouldhad said pleasantly to one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> three gentlemen from SanFrancisco she had to entertain in her new Sulaco house justabout a year after her marriage.They were her first visitors from abroad, and <strong>the</strong>y hadcome to look at <strong>the</strong> San Tome mine. She jested most agree-

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