the foreigner-第7章

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〃Get　yourselves　ready　for　dinner；〃　cried　Anka　after　them。　　〃The　best　is　yet　to　come；　and　then　the　dance。〃

Down　into　the　cellar　they　went；　stiff　and　sore　and　still　growling；　dipped　their　hands　and　heads　into　icy　water；　and　after　a　perfunctory　toilet　and　a　mug　of　beer　or　two　all　round；　they　were　ready　for　a　renewal　of　the　festivities。　　There　was　no　breakfast；　but　as　the　day　wore　on；　from　the　shacks　about　came　women　with　provisions　for　the　renewal　of　the　feast。　　For　Anka；　wise　woman；　had　kept　some　of　the　more　special　dishes　for　the　second　day。　　But　as　for　the　beer；　though　there　were　still　some　kegs　left；　they　were　few　enough　to　give　Jacob　Wassyl　concern。　　It　would　be　both　a　misfortune　and　a　disgrace　if　the　beer　should　fail　before　the　marriage　feast　was　over。　　The　case　was　serious　enough。　　Jacob　Wassyl's　own　money　was　spent；　the　guests　had　all　contributed　their　share；　Rosenblatt　would　sooner　surrender　blood　than　money；　and　Jacob　was　not　yet　sufficiently　established　as　a　husband　to　appeal　to　his　wife　for　further　help。

It　was　through　Simon　Ketzel　that　deliverance　came；　or　rather　through　Simon's　guest；　who；　learning　that　the　beer　was　like　to　fail；　passed　Simon　a　bill；　saying；　〃It　would　be　sad　if　disgrace　should　come　to　your　friends。　　Let　there　be　plenty　of　beer。　　Buy　what　is　necessary　and　keep　the　rest　in　payment　for　my　lodging。　　And　of　my　part　in　this　not　a　word　to　any　man。〃

As　a　result；　in　the　late　afternoon　a　dray　load　of　beer　kegs　appeared　at　Paulina's　back　door；　to　the　unspeakable　relief　of　Jacob　and　of　his　guests　as　well；　who　had　begun　to　share　his　anxiety　and　to　look　forward　to　an　evening　of　drouth　and　gloom。

As　for　Simon　Ketzel；　he　found　himself　at　once　upon　the　very　crest　of　a　wave　of　popularity；　for　through　the　driver　of　the　dray　it　became　known　that　it　was　Simon　that　had　come　so　splendidly　to　the　rescue。

Relieved　of　anxiety；　the　revellers　gave　themselves　with　fresh　and　reckless　zest　to　the　duty　of　assuring　beyond　all　shadow　of　doubt；　the　good　health　of　the　bride　and　the　groom；　and　of　every　one　in　general　in　flowing　mugs　of　beer。　　Throughout　the　afternoon；　men　and　women；　and　even　boys　and　girls；　ate　and　drank；　danced　and　sang　to　the　limit　of　their　ability。

As　the　evening　darkened；　and　while　this　carouse　was　at　its　height；　Paulina；　with　a　shawl　over　her　head；　slipped　out　of　the　house　and　through　the　crowd；　and　so　on　to　the　outskirts　of　the　colony；　where　she　found　her　husband　impatiently　waiting　her。

〃You　are　late；〃　he　said　harshly。

〃I　could　not　find　Kalman。〃

〃Kalman！　　My　boy！　　And　where　would　he　be？〃　exclaimed　her　husband　with　a　shade　of　anxiety　in　his　voice。

〃He　was　with　me　in　the　house。　　I　could　not　keep　him　from　the　men；　and　they　will　give　him　beer。〃

〃Beer　to　that　child？〃　snarled　her　husband。

〃Yes；　they　make　him　sing　and　dance；　and　they　give　him　beer。　　He　is　wonderful；〃　said　Paulina。

Even　as　she　spoke；　a　boy's　voice　rose　clear　and　full　in　a　Hungarian　love　song；　to　the　wild　accompaniment　of　the　cymbal。

〃Hush！〃　said　the　man　holding　up　his　hand。

At　the　first　sound　of　that　high；　clear　voice；　the　bacchanalian　shoutings　and　roarings　fell　silent；　and　the　wild　weird　song；　throbbing　with　passion；　rose　and　fell　upon　the　still　evening　air。　After　each　verse；　the　whole　chorus　of　deep；　harsh　voices　swelled　high　over　the　wailing　violins　and　Arnud's　clanging　cymbal。

〃Good；〃　muttered　the　man　when　the　song　had　ceased。　　〃Now　get　him。〃

〃I　shall　bring　him　to　yonder　house；〃　said　Paulina；　pointing　to　the　dwelling　of　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick；　whither　in　a　few　minutes　she　was　seen　half　dragging；　half　carrying　a　boy　of　eight；　who　kept　kicking　and　scratching　vigorously；　and　pouring　forth　a　torrent　of　English　oaths。

〃Hush；　Kalman；〃　said　Paulina　in　Galician；　vainly　trying　to　quiet　the　child。　　〃The　gentleman　will　be　ashamed　of　you。〃

〃I　do　not　care　for　any　gentleman；〃　screamed　Kalman。　　〃He　is　a　black　devil；〃　glancing　at　the　black　bearded　man　who　stood　waiting　them　at　the　door　of　the　Fitzpatrick　dwelling。

〃Hush；　hush；　you　bad　boy！〃　exclaimed　Paulina；　horrified；　laying　her　hand　over　the　boy's　mouth。

The　man　turned　his　back　upon　them；　pulled　off　his　black　beard；　thrust　it　into　his　pocket；　gave　his　mustaches　a　quick　turn　and　faced　about　upon　them。　　This　transformation　froze　the　boy's　fury　into　silence。　　He　shrank　back　to　his　mother's　side。

〃Is　it　the　devil？〃　he　whispered　to　his　mother　in　Galician。

〃Kalman；〃　said　the　man　quietly；　in　the　Russian　language；　〃come　to　me。　　I　am　your　father。〃

The　boy　gazed　at　him　fearful　and　perplexed。

〃He　does　not　understand；〃　said　Paulina　in　Russian。

〃Kalman；〃　repeated　his　father；　using　the　Galician　speech；　〃come　to　me。　　I　am　your　father。〃

The　boy　hesitated；　looking　fixedly　at　his　father。　　But　three　years　had　wiped　out　the　memory　of　that　face。

〃Come；　you　little　Cossack；〃　said　his　father；　smiling　at　him。　〃Come；　have　you　forgotten　all　your　rides？〃

The　boy　suddenly　started；　as　if　waking　from　sleep。　　The　words　evidently　set　the　grey　matter　moving　along　old　brain　tracks。　　He　walked　toward　his　father；　took　the　hand　outstretched　to　him；　and　kissed　it　again　and　again。

〃Aha；　my　son；　you　remember　me；〃　said　the　father　exultantly。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　boy　in　English；　〃I　remember　the　ride　on　the　black　horse。〃

The　man　lifted　the　boy　in　his　strong　arms；　kissed　him　again　and　again；　then　setting　him　down　said　to　Paulina；　〃Let　us　go　in。〃

Paulina　stepped　forward　and　knocked　at　the　door。　　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　answered　the　knock　and；　seeing　Paulina；　was　about　to　shut　the　door　upon　her　face；　when　Paulina　put　up　her　hand。

〃Look；〃　she　cried；　pointing　to　the　man；　who　stood　back　in　the　shadow；　〃Irma　fadder。〃

〃What　d'ye　say？〃　enquired　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick。

〃Irma　fadder；〃　repeated　Paulina；　pointing　to　Kalmar。

〃Is　my　daughter　Irma　in　your　house？〃　said　he；　stepping　forward。

〃Yer　daughter；　is　it？〃　said　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick；　looking　sharply　into　the　foreigner's　face。　　〃An'　if　she's　yer　daughter　it's　yersilf　that　should　ashamed　av　it　fer　the　way　ye've　desarted　the　lot　o'　thim。〃

〃Is　it　permitted　that　I　see　my　daughter　Irma？〃　said　the　man　quietly。

Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　scanned　his　face　suspiciously；　then　called；　〃Irma　darlin'；　come　here　an'　tell　me　who　this　is。　　Give　the　babby　to　Tim　there；　an'　come　away。〃

A　girl　of　between　eleven　and　twelve；　tall　for　her　age；　with　pale　face；　two　thick　braids　of　yellow　hair；　and　wonderful　eyes　〃burnin'　brown；〃　as　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　said；　came　to　the　door　and　looked　out　upon　the　man。　　For　some　time　they　gazed　steadily　each　into　the　other's　face。

〃Irma；　my　child；〃　said　Kalmar　in　English；　〃you　know　me？〃

But　the　girl　stood　gazing　in　perplexity。

〃Irma！　　Child　of　my　soul！〃　cried　the　man；　in　the　Russian　tongue；　〃do　you　not　remember　your　father？〃　　He　stepped　from　the　shadow　to　where　the　light　from　the　open　door　could　fall　upon　his　face　and　stood　with　arms　outstretched。

At　once　the　girl's　face　changed；　and　with　a　cry；　〃It　is　my　fadder！〃　she　threw　herself　at　him。

Her　father　caught　her　and　held　her　fast；　saying　not　a　word；　but　covering　her　face　with　kisses。

〃Come　in；　come　in　to　the　warm；〃　cried　the　kindhearted　Irish　woman；　wiping　her　eyes。　　〃Come　in　out　o'　the　cold。〃　　And　with　eager　hospitality　she　hurried　the　father　and　children　into　the　house。

As　they　passed　in；　Paulina　turned　away。　　Before　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　shut　the　door；　Irma　caught　her　arm　and　whispered　in　her　ear。

〃Paulina；　is　it？　　Let　her　shtop〃　　She　paused；　looking　at　the　Russian。

〃Your　pardon？〃　he　enquired　with　a　bow。

〃It's　Paulina；〃　said　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick；　her　voice　carrying　the　full　measure　of　her　contempt　for　the　unhappy　creature　who　stood　half　turning　away　from　the　door。

〃Ah；　let　her　go。　　It　is　no　difference。　　She　is　a　sow。　　Let　her　go。〃

〃Thin　she's　not　your　wife　at　all？〃　said　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick；　her　wrath　rising　at　this　discovery　of　further　deception　in　Paulina。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃She　was　once。　　I　married　her。　　She　is　wife　no　longer。　　Let　her　go。〃

His　contemptuous　indifference　turned　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick's　wrath　upon　him。

〃An'　it's　yersilf　that　ought　to　take　shame　to　yersilf　fer　the　way　ye've　treated　her；　an'　so　ye　should！〃

The　man　waved　his　hand　as　if　to　brush　aside　a　matter　of　quite　trifling　moment。

〃It　matters　not；〃　he　repeated。　　〃She　is　only　a　cow。〃

〃Let　her　come　in；〃　whispered　Irma；　laying　her　hand　again　on　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick's　arm。

〃Sure　she　will；〃　cried　the　Irish　woman；　〃come　in　here；　you　poor；　spiritless　craythur。〃

Irma　sprang　down　the　steps；　spoke　a　few　hurried　words　in　Galician。　Poor　Paulina　hesitated；　her　eyes　upon　her　husband's　face。　　He　made　a　contemptuous　motion　with　his　hand　as　if　calling　a　dog　to　heel。　Immediately；　like　a　dog；　the　woman　crept　in　and　sat　far　away　from　the　fire　in　a　corner　of　the　room。

〃Ye'll　pardon　me；〃　said　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　to　Kalmar；　〃fer　not　axin'　ye　in　at　the　first；　but　indade；　an'　it's　more　your　blame　than　mine；　fer　sorra　a　bit　o'　thim　takes　afther　ye。〃

〃They　do　not　resemble　me；　you　mean？〃　said　the　father。　　〃No；　they　are　the　likeness　of　their　mother。〃　　As　he　spoke　he　pulled　out　a　leather　case；　opened　it　and　passed　it　to　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick。

〃Aw；　will　ye　look　at　that　now！〃　she　cried；　gazing　at　the　beautiful　miniature。　　〃An'　the　purty　face　av　her。　　Sure；　it's　a　rale　queen　she　was；　an'　that's　no　lie。　　An'　the　girl　is　goin'　to　be　the　very　spit　av　her。　　An'　the　bye；　he's　got　her　blue　eyes　an'　her　bright　hair。　　It's　aisy　seen　where　they　git　their　looks；〃　she　added；　glancing　at　him。

〃Mind　yer　manners；　now　thin；〃　growled　Tim；　who　was　very　considerably　impressed　by　the　military　carriage　and　the　evident　〃quality〃　of　their　guest。

〃Yes；　the　children　have　the　likeness　of　their　mother；〃　said　the　father　in　a　voice　soft　and　reminiscent。　　〃It　is　in　their　behalf　I　am　here　to…night；　Madamwhat　shall　I　have　the　honour　to　name　you？〃

〃Me　name；　is　it？〃　cried　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick。　　〃Mishtress　Timothy　Fitzpatrick；　Monaghan　that　was；　the　Monaghans　o'　Ballinghalereen；　an　owld　family；　poor　as　Job's　turkey；　but　proud　as　the　divil；　an'　wance　the　glory　o'　Mayo。　　An'　this；〃　she　added；　indicating　her　spouse　with　a　jerk　of　her　thumb；　〃is　Timothy　Fitzpatrick；　me　husband；　a　dacent　man　in　his　way。　　Timothy；　where's　yer　manners？　Shtand　up　an'　do　yer　duty。〃

Tim　struggled　to　his　feet；　embarrassed　with　the　burden　of　Paulina's　baby；　and　pulled　his　forelock。

〃And　my　name；〃　said　the　Russian；　answering　Timothy's　salutation　with　a　profound　bow；　〃is　Michael　Kalmar；　with　respect　to　you　and　Mr。　Vichpatrick。〃

Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　was　evidently　impressed。

〃An'　proud　I　am　to　see　ye　in　me　house；〃　she　said；　answering　his　bow　with　a　curtsey。　　〃Tim；　ye　owl　ye！　　Why　don't　ye　hand　his　honour　a　chair？　　Did　ye　niver　git　the　air　o'　a　gintleman　before？〃

It　took　some　minutes　to　get　the　company　settled；　owing　to　the　reluctance　of　the　Russian　to　seat　himself　while　the　lady　was　standing；　and　the　equal　reluctance　of　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　to　take　her　seat　until　she　had　comfortably　settled　her　guest。

〃I　come　to　you；　Mrs。　Vichpatrick；　on　behalf　of　my　children。〃

〃An'　fine　childer　they　are；　barrin'　the　lad　is　a　bit　av　a　limb　betimes。〃

In　courteous　and　carefully　studied　English；　Kalmar　told　his　need。　His　affairs　called　him　to　Europe。　　He　might　be　gone　a　year；　perhaps　more。　　He　needed　some　one　to　care　for　his　children。　　Paulina；　though　nothing　to　him　now；　w