the legacy of cain-第5章

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hidden；　as　I　have　been　told；　by　a　white　cap　drawn　over　it。　Is
that　true？〃

How　another　man　might　have　felt；　in　my　place；　I　cannot；　of
course；　say。　To　my　mind；　such　a　questionon　_her_　lipswas　too
shocking　to　be　answered　in　words。　I　bowed。

〃And　the　body　is　buried；〃　she　went　on；　〃in　the　prison？〃

I　could　remain　silent　no　longer。　〃Is　there　no　human　feeling　left
in　you？〃　I　burst　out。　〃What　do　these　horrid　questions　mean？〃

〃Don't　be　angry　with　me；　sir；　you　shall　hear　directly。　I　want　to
know　first　if　I　am　to　be　buried　in　the　prison？〃

I　replied　as　before；　by　a　bow。

〃Now；〃　she　said；　〃I　may　tell　you　what　I　mean。　In　the　autumn　of
last　year　I　was　taken　to　see　some　waxworks。　Portraits　of
criminals　were　among　them。　There　was　one　portrait〃　She
hesitated；　her　infernal　self…possession　failed　her　at　last。　The
color　left　her　face；　she　was　no　longer　able　to　look　at　me　firmly。
〃There　was　one　portrait；〃　she　resumed；　〃that　had　been　taken　after
the　execution。　The　face　was　so　hideous；　it　was　swollen　to　such　a
size　in　its　frightful　deformityoh；　sir；　don't　let　me　be　seen　in
that　state；　even　by　the　strangers　who　bury　me！　Use　your
influenceforbid　them　to　take　the　cap　off　my　face　when　I　am
deadorder　them　to　bury　me　in　it；　and　I　swear　to　you　I'll　meet
death　tomorrow　as　coolly　as　the　boldest　man　that　ever　mounted　the
scaffold！〃　Before　I　could　stop　her；　she　seized　me　by　the　hand；
and　wrung　it　with　a　furious　power　that　left　the　mark　of　her　grasp
on　me；　in　a　bruise；　for　days　afterward。　〃Will　you　do　it？〃　she
cried。　〃You're　an　honorable　man；　you　will　keep　your　word。　Give　me
your　promise！〃

I　gave　her　my　promise。

The　relief　to　her　tortured　spirit　expressed　itself　horribly　in　a
burst　of　frantic　laughter。　〃I　can't　help　it；〃　she　gasped；　〃I'm　so
happy。〃

My　enemies　said　of　me；　when　I　got　my　appointment；　that　I　was　too
excitable　a　man　to　be　governor　of　a　prison。　Perhaps　they　were　not
altogether　wrong。　Anyhow；　the　quick…witted　Doctor　saw　some　change
in　me；　which　I　was　not　aware　of　myself。　He　took　my　arm　and　led　me
out　of　the　cell。　〃Leave　her　to　me；〃　he　whispered。　〃The　fine　edge
of　my　nerves　was　worn　off　long　ago　in　the　hospital。〃

When　we　met　again；　I　asked　what　had　passed　between　the　Prisoner
and　himself。

〃I　gave　her　time　to　recover；〃　he　told　me；　〃and；　except　that　she
looked　a　little　paler　than　usual；　there　was　no　trace　left　of　the
frenzy　that　you　remember。　'I　ought　to　apologize　for　troubling
you；'　she　said；　'but　it　is　perhaps　natural　that　I　should　think；
now　and　then；　of　what　is　to　happen　to　me　to…morrow　morning。　As　a
medical　man；　you　will　be　able　to　enlighten　me。　Is　death　by
hanging　a　painful　death？'　She　had　put　it　so　politely　that　I　felt
bound　to　answer　her。　'If　the　neck　happens　to　be　broken；'　I　said；
'hanging　is　a　sudden　death；　fright　and　pain　（if　there　is　any
pain）　are　both　over　in　an　instant。　As　to　the　other　form　of　death
which　is　also　possible　（I　mean　death　by　suffocation）；　I　must　own
as　an　honest　man　that　I　know　no　more　about　it　than　you　do。'　After
considering　a　little；　she　made　a　sensible　remark；　and　followed　it
by　an　embarrassing　request。　'A　great　deal；'　she　said；　'must
depend　on　the　executioner。　I　am　not　afraid　of　death；　Doctor。　Why
should　I　be？　My　anxiety　about　my　little　girl　is　set　at　rest；　I
have　nothing　left　to　live　for。　But　I　don't　like　pain。　Would　you
mind　telling　the　executioner　to　be　careful？　Or　would　it　be　better
if　I　spoke　to　him　myself？'　I　said　I　thought　it　would　come　with　a
better　grace　from　herself。　She　understood　me　directly；　and　we
dropped　the　subject。　Are　you　surprised　at　her　coolness；　after
your　experience　of　her？〃

I　confessed　that　I　was　surprised。

〃Think　a　little；〃　the　Doctor　said。　〃The　one　sensitive　place　in
that　woman's　nature　is　the　place　occupied　by　her　self…esteem。〃

I　objected　to　this　that　she　had　shown　fondness　for　her　child。

My　friend　disposed　of　the　objection　with　his　customary　readiness。

〃The　maternal　instinct；〃　he　said。　〃A　cat　is　fond　of　her　kittens；
a　cow　is　fond　of　her　calf。　No；　sir；　the　one　cause　of　that
outbreak　of　passion　which　so　shocked　youa　genuine　outbreak；
beyond　all　doubtis　to　be　found　in　the　vanity　of　a　fine　feminine
creature；　overpowered　by　a　horror　of　looking　hideous；　even　after
her　death。　Do　you　know　I　rather　like　that　woman？〃

〃Is　it　possible　that　you　are　in　earnest？〃　I　asked。

〃I　know　as　well　as　you　do；〃　he　answered；　that　this　is　neither　a
time　nor　a　place　for　jesting。　The　fact　is；　the　Prisoner　carries
out　an　idea　of　mine。　It　is　my　positive　conviction　that　the　worst
murdersI　mean　murders　deliberately　plannedare　committed　by
persons　absolutely　deficient　in　that　part　of　the　moral
organization　which　_feels。_　The　night　before　they　are　hanged　they
sleep。　On　their　last　morning　they　eat　a　breakfast。　Incapable　of
realizing　the　horror　of　murder；　they　are　incapable　of　realizing
the　horror　of　death。　Do　you　remember　the　last　murderer　who　was
　hanged　herea　gentleman's　coachman　who　killed　his　wife？　He　had
but　two　anxieties　while　he　was　waiting　for　execution。　One　was　to
get　his　allowance　of　beer　doubled；　and　the　other　was　to　be　hanged
in　his　coachman's　livery。　No！　no！　these　wretches　are　all　alike；
they　are　human　creatures　born　with　the　temperaments　of　tigers。
Take　my　word　for　it；　we　need　feel　no　anxiety　about　to…morrow。　The
Prisoner　will　face　the　crowd　round　the　scaffold　with　composure；
and　the　people　will　say；　'She　died　game。'　〃

CHAPTER　VIII。

THE　MINISTER　SAYS　GOOD…BY。


THE　Capital　Punishment　of　the　Prisoner　is　in　no　respect　connected
with　my　purpose　in　writing　the　present　narrative。　Neither　do　I
desire　to　darken　these　pages　by　describing　in　detail　an　act　of
righteous　retribution　which　must　present；　by　the　nature　of　it；　a
scene　of　horror。　For　these　reasons　I　ask　to　be　excused；　if　I
limit　what　I　must　needs　say　of　the　execution　within　the　compass
of　a　few　wordsand　pass　on。

The　one　self…possessed　person　among　us　was　the　miserable　woman
who　suffered　the　penalty　of　death。

Not　very　discreetly；　as　I　think；　the　Chaplain　asked　her　if　she
had　truly　repented。　She　answered：　〃I　have　confessed　the　crime；
sir。　What　more　do　you　want？〃　To　my　mindstill　hesitating　between
the　view　that　believes　with　the　Minister；　and　the　view　that
doubts　with　the　Doctorthis　reply　leaves　a　way　open　to　hope　of
her　salvation。　Her　last　words　to　me；　as　she　mounted　the　steps　of
the　scaffold；　were：　〃Remember　your　promise。〃　It　was　easy　for　me
to　be　true　to　my　word。　At　that　bygone　time；　no　difficulties　were
placed　in　my　way　by　such　precautions　as　are　now　observed　in　the
conduct　of　executions　within　the　walls　of　the　prison。　From　the
time　of　her　death　to　the　time　of　her　burial；　no　living　creature
saw　her　face。　She　rests；　veiled　in　her　prison　grave。

Let　me　now　turn　to　living　interests；　and　to　scenes　removed　from
the　thunder…clouds　of　crime。

。　。　。　。　。　。　。

On　the　next　day　I　received　a　visit　from　the　Minister。

His　first　words　entreated　me　not　to　allude　to　the　terrible　event
of　the　previous　day。　〃I　cannot　escape　thinking　of　it；〃　he　said；
〃but　I　may　avoid　speaking　of　it。〃　This　seemed　to　me　to　be　the
misplaced　confidence　of　a　weak　man　in　the　refuge　of　silence。　By
way　of　changing　the　subject；　I　spoke　of　the　child。　There　would　be
serious　difficulties　to　contend　with　（as　I　ventured　to　suggest）；
if　he　remained　in　the　town；　and　allowed　his　new　responsibilities
to　become　the　subject　of　public　talk。

His　reply　to　this　agreeably　surprised　me。　There　were　no
difficulties　to　be　feared。

The　state　of　his　wife's　health　had　obliged　him　（acting　under
medical　advice）　to　try　the　influence　of　her　native　air。　An
interval　of　some　months　might　elapse　before　the　good　effect　of
the　change　had　sufficiently　declared　itself；　and　a　return　to　the
peculiar　climate　of　the　town　might　bring　on　a　relapse。　There　had
consequently　been　no　alternative　to　but　resign　his　charge。　Only
on　that　day　the　resignation　had　been　acceptedwith　expressions
of　regret　sincerely　reciprocated　by　himself。　He　proposed　to　leave
the　town　immediately；　and　one　of　the　objects　of　his　visit　was　to
bid　me　good…by。

〃The　next　place　I　live　in；〃　he　said；　〃will　be　more　than　a　hundred
miles　away。　At　that　distance　I　may　hope　to　keep　events　concealed
which　must　be　known　only　to　ourselves。　So　far　as　I　can　see；　there
are　no　risks　of　discovery　lurking　in　this　place。　My　servants
（only　two　in　number）　have　both　been　born　here；　and　have　both　told
my　wife　that　they　have　no　wish　to　go　away。　As　to　the　person　who
introduced　herself　to　me　by　the　name　of　Miss　Chance；　she　was
traced　to　the　railway　station　yesterday　afternoon；　and　took　her
ticket　for　London。〃

I　congratulated　the　Minister　on　the　good　fortune　which　had
befriended　him；　so　far。

〃You　will　understand　how　carefully　I　have　provided　against　being
deceived；〃　he　continued；　〃when　I　tell　you　what　my　plans　are。　The
persons　among　whom　my　future　lot　is　castand　the　child　herself；
of　coursemust　never　suspect　that　the　new　member　of　my　family　is
other　than　my　own　daughter。　This　is　deceit；　I　admit；　but　it　is
deceit　that　injures　no　one。　I　hope　you　see　the　necessity　for　it；
as　I　do。〃

There　could　be　no　doubt　of　the　necessity。

If　the　child　was　described　as　adopted；　there　would　be　curiosity
about　the　circumstances；　and　inquiries　relating　to　the　parents。
Prevaricating　replies　lead　to　suspicion；　and　suspicion　to
discovery。　But　for　the　wise　course　which　the　Minister　had　decided
on　taking；　the　poor　child's　life　might　have　been　darkened　by　the
horror　of　the　mother's　crime；　and　the　infamy　of　the　mother's
death。

Having　quieted　my　friend's　needless　scruples　by　this　perfectly
sincere　expression　of　opinion；　I　ventured　to　approach　the　central
figure　in　his　domestic　circle；　by　means　of　a　question　relating　to
his　wife。　How　had　that　lady　received　the　unfortunate　little
creature；　for　whose　appearance　on　the　home…scene　she　must　have
been　entirely　unprepared？

The　Minister's　manner　showed　some　embarrassment；　he　prefaced　what
he　had　to　tell　me　with　praises　of　his　wife；　equally　creditable　no
doubt　to　both　of　them。　The　beauty　of　the　child；　the　pretty　ways
of　the　child；　he　said；　fascinated　the　admirable　woman　at　first
sight。　It　was　not　to　be　denied　that　she　had　felt；　and　had
expressed；　misgivings；　on　being　informed　of　the　circumstances
under　which　the　Minister's　act　of　mercy　had　been　performed。　But
her　mind　was　too　well　balanced　to　incline　to　this　state　of
feeling；　when　her　husband　had　addressed　her　in　defense　of　his
conduct。　She　then　understood　that　the　true　merit　of　a　good　action
consisted　in　patiently　facing　the　sacrifices　involved。　Her
interest　in　the　new　daughter　being；　in　this　way；　ennobled　by　a
sense　of　Christian　duty；　there　had　been　no　further　difference　of
opinion　between　the　married　pair。

I　listened　to　this　plausible　explanation　with　interest；　but；　at
the　same　time；　with　doubts　of　the　lasting　nature　of　the　lady's
submission　to　circumstances；　suggested；　perhaps；　by　the
constraint　in　the　Minister's　manner。　It　was　well　for　both　of　us
when　we　changed　the　subject。　He　reminded　me　of　the　discouraging
view　which　the　Doctor　had　taken　of　the　prospect　before　him。

〃I　will　not　attempt　to　decide　whether　your　friend　is　right　or
wrong；〃　he　said。　〃Trusting；　as　I　do；　in　the　mercy　of　God；　I　look
hopefully　to　a　future　ti