Joseph Conrad: Nostromo

PART FIRST: THE SILVER OF THE MINE 6. CHAPTER SIX (continued)

"Yes. But if he had only grappled with it in a proper way!"

And then they stopped. Everywhere there were long shadows lying
on the hills, on the roads, on the enclosed fields of olive
trees; the shadows of poplars, of wide chestnuts, of farm
buildings, of stone walls; and in mid-air the sound of a bell,
thin and alert, was like the throbbing pulse of the sunset glow.
Her lips were slightly parted as though in surprise that he
should not be looking at her with his usual expression. His usual
expression was unconditionally approving and attentive. He was
in his talks with her the most anxious and deferential of
dictators, an attitude that pleased her immensely. It affirmed
her power without detracting from his dignity. That slight girl,
with her little feet, little hands, little face attractively
overweighted by great coils of hair; with a rather large mouth,
whose mere parting seemed to breathe upon you the fragrance of
frankness and generosity, had the fastidious soul of an
experienced woman. She was, before all things and all flatteries,
careful of her pride in the object of her choice. But now he was
actually not looking at her at all; and his expression was tense
and irrational, as is natural in a man who elects to stare at
nothing past a young girl's head.

"Well, yes. It was iniquitous. They corrupted him thoroughly, the
poor old boy. Oh! why wouldn't he let me go back to him? But now
I shall know how to grapple with this."

After pronouncing these words with immense assurance, he glanced
down at her, and at once fell a prey to distress, incertitude,
and fear.

The only thing he wanted to know now, he said, was whether she
did love him enough--whether she would have the courage to go
with him so far away? He put these questions to her in a voice
that trembled with anxiety--for he was a determined man.