the foreigner-第15章

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　poor　chap。　　I　wish　to　Heaven　the　other　fellow　had　got　it。〃

As　the　prisoner　turned　with　the　officer　to　leave　the　dock；　a　wild　sobbing　fell　upon　his　ear。　　It　was　Paulina。　　Kalmar　turned　to　the　judge。

〃Is　it　permitted　that　I　see　my　children　beforebefore　I　depart？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　the　judge　quickly。　　〃Your　wife　and　children　and　your　friends　may　visit　you　at　a　convenient　hour　to…morrow。〃

Kalmar　bowed　with　grave　courtesy　and　walked　away。

Beside　the　sobbing　Paulina　sat　the　children；　pale　and　bewildered。

〃Where　is　my　father　going？〃　asked　the　boy　in　Russian。

〃Alas！　alas！　　We　shall　see　him　no　more！〃　sobbed　Paulina。

Quickly　the　boy's　voice　rang　out；　shrill　with　grief　and　terror；　〃Father！　father！　　Come　back！〃

The　prisoner；　who　was　just　disappearing　through　the　door；　stopped；　turned　about；　his　pale　face　convulsed　with　a　sudden　agony。　　He　took　a　step　toward　his　son；　who　had　run　toward　the　bar　after　him。

〃My　son；　be　brave；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　audible　throughout　the　room。　〃Be　brave。　　I　shall　see　you　to…morrow。〃

He　waved　his　hand　toward　his　son；　turned　again　and　passed　out　with　the　officer。

Through　the　staring　crowd　came　a　little　lady　with　white　hair　and　a　face　pale　and　chastened　into　sweetness。

〃Let　me　come　with　you；〃　she　said　to　Paulina；　while　the　tears　coursed　down　her　cheeks。

The　Galician　woman　understood　not　a　word；　but　the　touch　upon　her　arm；　the　tone　in　the　voice；　the　flowing　tears　were　a　language　she　could　understand。　　Paulina　raised　her　dull；　tear…dimmed　eyes；　and　for　a　brief　moment　gazed　into　the　pale　face　above　her；　then　without　further　word　rose　and；　followed　by　her　children；　accompanied　the　little　lady　from　the　room；　the　crowd　making　respectful　way　before　the　pathetic　group。

〃Say；　O'Hara；　there　are　still　angels　going　about；〃　said　young　Dr。　Wright；　following　the　group　with　his　eyes。

〃Be　Hivin！〃　replied　the　tender…hearted　Irishman；　his　eyes　suddenly　dim；　〃there's　wan　annyway；　and　Margaret　French　is　the　first　two　letters　of　her　name。〃



CHAPTER　VIII

THE　PRICE　OF　VENGEANCE


Dr。　Wright's　telephone　rang　early　next　morning。　　The　doctor　was　prompt　to　respond。　　His　practice　had　not　yet　reached　the　stage　that　rendered　the　telephone　a　burden。　　His　young　wife　stood　beside　him；　listening　with　eager　hope　in　her　wide…open　brown　eyes。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃Oh；　it's　you。　　Delighted　to　hear　your　ring。〃　　〃No；　not　so　terribly。　　The　rush　doesn't　begin　till　later　in　the　day。〃　　〃Not　at　all。　　What　can　I　do　for　you？〃　　〃Certainly；　delighted。〃　　〃What？　　Right　away？〃　　〃Well；　say　within　an　hour。〃

〃Who　is　it？〃　asked　his　wife；　as　the　doctor　hung　up　the　phone。　　〃A　new　family？〃

〃No　such　luck；〃　replied　the　doctor。　　〃This　has　been　a　frightfully　healthy　season。　　But　the　spring　promises　a　very　satisfactory　typhoid　epidemic。〃

〃Who　is　it？〃　said　his　wife　again；　impatiently。

〃Your　friend　Mrs。　French；　inviting　me　to　an　expedition　into　the　foreign　colony。〃

〃Oh！〃　　She　could　not　keep　the　disappointment　out　of　her　tone。　　〃I　think　Mrs。　French　might　call　some　of　the　other　doctors。〃

〃So　she　does；　lots　of　them。　　And　most　of　them　stand　ready　to　obey　her　call。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　little　woman　at　his　side；　〃I　think　you　are　going　too　much　among　those　awful　people。〃

〃Awful　people？〃　exclaimed　the　doctor。　　〃It's　awfully　good　practice；　I　know。　　That　is；　in　certain　lines。　　I　can't　say　there　is　very　much　variety。　　When　a　really　good　thing　occurs；　it　is　whisked　off　to　the　hospital　and　the　big　guns　get　it。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　like　your　going　so　much；〃　persisted　his　wife。　　〃Some　day　you　will　get　hurt。〃

〃Hurt？〃　exclaimed　the　doctor。　　〃Me？〃

〃Oh；　I　know　you　think　nothing　can　hurt　you。　　But　a　bullet　or　a　knife　can　do　for　you　as　well　as　for　any　one　else。　　Supposing　that　terrible　manwhat's　his　name？Kalmarhad　struck　you　instead　of　the　Polak；　where　would　you　be？〃

〃The　question　is；　where　would　he　be？〃　said　the　doctor　with　a　smile。　〃As　for　Kalmar；　he's　not　too　bad　a　sort；　at　least　there　are　others　a　little　worse。　　I　shouldn't　be　surprised　if　that　fellow　Rosenblatt　got　only　a　little　less　than　he　deserved。　　Certainly　O'Hara　let　in　some　light　upon　his　moral　ulcers。〃

〃Well；　I　wish　you　would　drop　them；　anyway；〃　continued　his　wife。

〃No；　you　don't；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃You　know　quite　well　that　you　would　root　me　out　of　bed　any　hour　of　the　night　to　see　any　of　their　kiddies　that　happened　to　have　a　pain　in　their　little　tumtums。　Between　you　and　Mrs。　French　I　haven't　a　moment　to　devote　to　my　large　and　growing　practice。〃

〃What　does　she　want　now？〃　　It　must　be　confessed　that　her　tone　was　slightly　impatient。

〃Mrs。　French　has　succeeded　in　getting　the　excellent　Mrs。　Blazowski　to　promise　for　the　tenth　time；　I　believe；　to　allow　some　one；　preferably　myself；　to　take　her　eczematic　children　to　the　hospital。〃

〃Well；　she　won't。〃

〃I　think　it　is　altogether　likely。　　But　why　do　you　think　so？〃

〃Because　you　have　tried　before。〃

〃Never。〃

〃Well；　Mrs。　French　has；　and　you　were　with　her。〃

〃That　is　correct。　　But　to…day　I　shall　adopt　new　tactics。　　Mrs。　French's　flank　movements　have　broken　down。　　I　shall　carry　the　position　with　a　straight　frontal　attack。　　And　I　shall　succeed。　If　not；　my　dear；　that　little　fur　tippet　thing　which　you　have　so　resolutely　refused　to　let　your　eyes　rest　upon　as　we　pass　the　Hudson's　Bay；　is　yours。〃

〃I　don't　want　it　a　bit；〃　said　his　wife。　　〃And　you　know　we　can't　afford　it。〃

〃Don't　you　worry；　little　girl；〃　said　the　doctor　cheerfully；　〃practice　is　looking　up。　　My　name　is　getting　into　the　papers。　　A　few　more　foreign　weddings　with　attendant　killings　and　I　shall　be　famous。〃

At　the　Blazowski　shack　Mrs。　French　was　waiting　the　doctor；　and　in　despair。　　A　crowd　of　children　appeared　to　fill　the　shack　and　overflow　through　the　door　into　the　sunny　space　outside；　on　the　sheltered　side　of　the　house。

The　doctor　made　his　way　through　them　and　passed　into　the　evil…　smelling；　filthy　room。　　For　Mrs。　Blazowski　found　it　a　task　beyond　her　ability　to　perform　the　domestic　duties　attaching　to　the　care　of　seven　children　and　a　like　number　of　boarders　in　her　single　room。　Mrs。　French　was　seated　on　a　stool　with　a　little　child　of　three　years　upon　her　knee。

〃Doctor；　don't　you　think　that　these　children　ought　to　go　to　the　hospital　to…day？〃　she　said；　as　the　doctor　entered。

〃Why；　sure　thing；　they　must　go。　　Let's　look　at　them。〃

He　tried　to　take　the　little　child　from　Mrs。　French's　knee；　but　the　little　one　vehemently　objected。

〃Well；　let's　look　at　you；　anyway；〃　said　the　doctor；　proceeding　to　unwind　some　filthy　rags　from　the　little　one's　head。　　〃Great　Scott！〃　he　exclaimed　in　a　low　voice；　〃this　is　truly　awful！〃

The　hair　was　matted　with　festering　scabs。　　The　ears；　the　eyes；　the　fingers　were　full　of　running　sores。

〃I　had　no　idea　this　thing　had　gone　so　far；〃　he　said　in　a　horrified　voice。

〃What　is　it？〃　said　Mrs。　French。　　〃Is　it〃

〃No；　not　itch。　　It　is　the　industrious　and　persevering　eczema　pusculosum；　known　to　the　laity　as　salt　rheum　of　the　domestic　variety。〃

〃It　has　certainly　got　worse　this　last　week；〃　said　Mrs。　French。

〃Well；　this　can't　go　on　another　day；　and　I　can't　treat　her　here。　She　must　go。　　Tell　your　mother；〃　said　the　doctor　in　a　decided　tone　to　a　little　girl　of　thirteen　who　stood　near。

Mrs。　Blazowski　threw　up　her　hands　with　voluble　protestation。　　〃She　says　they　will　not　go。　　She　put　grease　on　and　make　them　all　right。〃

〃Grease！〃　exclaimed　the　doctor。　　〃I　should　say　so；　and　a　good　many　other　things　too！　　Why；　the　girl's　head　is　alive　with　them！　Heavens　above！〃　said　the　doctor；　turning　to　Mrs。　French；　〃she's　running　over　with　vermin！　　Let's　see　the　other。〃

He　turned　to　a　girl　of　five；　whose　head　and　face　were　even　more　seriously　affected　with　the　dread　disease。

〃Why；　bless　my　soul！　　This　girl　will　lose　her　eyesight！　　Now　look　here；　these　children　must　go　to　the　hospital；　and　must　go　now。　Tell　your　mother　what　I　say。〃

Again　the　little　girl　translated；　and　again　the　mother　made　emphatic　reply。

〃What　does　she　say？〃

〃She　say　she　not　let　them　go。　　She　fix　them　herself。　　Fix　them　all　right。〃

〃Perhaps　we　better　wait；　Doctor；〃　interposed　Mrs。　French。　　〃I'll　talk　to　her　and　we'll　try　another　day。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　doctor；　catching　up　a　shawl　and　wrapping　around　the　little　girl；　〃she's　going　with　me　now。　　There　will　be　a　scrap；　and　you　will　have　to　get　in。　　I'll　back　you　up。〃

As　the　doctor　caught　up　the　little　child；　the　mother　shouted；　〃No；　no！　　Not　go！〃

〃I　say　yes；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃I'll　get　a　policeman　and　put　you　all　in　prison。　　Tell　her。〃

The　threat　made　no　impression　upon　the　mother。　　On　the　contrary；　as　the　doctor　moved　toward　the　door　she　seized　a　large　carving…knife　and　threw　herself　before　him。　　For　a　moment　or　two　they　stood　facing　each　other；　the　doctor　uncertain　what　his　next　move　should　be；　but　determined　that　his　plan　should　not　fail　this　time。　　It　was　Mrs。　French　who　interposed。　　With　a　smile　she　laid　her　hand　upon　the　mother's　arm。

〃Tell　her；〃　she　said　to　the　little　girl；　〃that　I　will　go　with　the　children；　and　I　promise　that　no　hurt　shall　come　to　them。　　And　I　will　bring　them　back　again　safe。　　Your　mother　can　come　and　see　them　to…morrowto…day。　　The　hospital　is　a　lovely　place。　　They　will　have　nice　toys；　dolls；　and　nice　things　to　eat；　and　we'll　make　them　better。〃

Rapidly；　almost　breathlessly；　and　with　an　eager　smile　on　her　sweet　face；　Mrs。　French　went　on　to　describe　the　advantages　and　attractions　of　the　hospital；　pausing　only　to　allow　the　little　girl　to　translate。

At　length　the　mother　relented；　her　face　softened。　　She　stepped　from　the　door；　laying　down　her　knife　upon　the　table；　moved　not　by　the　glowing　picture　of　Mrs。　French's　words；　but　by　the　touch　upon　her　arm　and　the　face　that　smiled　into　hers。　　Once　more　the　mother　spoke。

〃Will　you　go　too？〃　interpreted　the　little　girl。

〃Yes；　surely。　　I　go　too；〃　she　replied。

This　brought　the　mother's　final　surrender。　　She　seized　Mrs。　French's　hand；　and　bursting　into　loud　weeping；　kissed　it　again　and　again。　　Mrs。　French　put　her　arms　around　the　weeping　woman；　and　unshrinking；　kissed　the　tear…stained；　dirty　face。　　Dr。　Wright　looked　on　in　admiring　silence。

〃You　are　a　dead　sport；〃　he　said。　　〃I　can't　play　up　to　that；　but　you　excite　my　ambition。　　Get　a　shawl　around　the　other　kiddie　and　come　along；　or　I'll　find　myself　kissing　the　bunch。〃

Once　more　he　started　toward　the　door；　but　the　mother　was　before　him；　talking　and　gesticulating。

〃What's　the　row　now？〃　said　the　doctor；　turning　to　the　little　interpreter。

〃She　says　she　must　dress　them；　make　them　clean。〃

〃It's　a　big　order；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃but　I　submit。〃

With　great　energy　Mrs。　Blazowski　proceeded　to　prepare　her　children　for　their　momentous　venture　into　the　world。　　The　washing　process　was　simple　enough。　　From　the　dish…pan　which　stood　upon　the　hearth　half　full　of　dirty　water　and　some　of　the　breakfast　dishes；　she　took　a　greasy　dish…cloth；　wrung　it　out　carefully；　and　with　it　proceeded　to　wash；　not　untenderly；　the　festering　heads；　faces　and　fingers　of　her　children；　resorting　from　time　to　time　to　the　dishpan　for　a　fresh　supply　of　water。　　This　done；　she　carefully　dried　the　parts　thus　diligently　washed　with　the　handkerchief　which　she　usually　wore　about　her　head。　　Then　pinning　shawls　about　their　heads；　she　had　her　children　ready　for　their　departure；　and　gave　them　into　Mr