Why does Nostromo choose Mrs Gould for his deathbed near-confession? On the surface it appears that he wants Mrs Gould to take Giselle in; hence his reminder here about keeping the roof over Mrs Gould's head. But there is more to it. Below he refers to her famous "compassion," the fact that she has been "always good to the poor" -- i.e., her altruism. He thus has "something to say" to altruism as such, and we should be alerted to read what follows allegorically, as a message from the People to those who would uplift them.