the legacy of cain-第6章

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wrong；〃　he　said。　〃Trusting；　as　I　do；　in　the　mercy　of　God；　I　look
hopefully　to　a　future　time　when　all　that　is　brightest　and　best　in
the　nature　of　my　adopted　child　will　be　developed　under　my
fostering　care。　If　evil　tendencies　show　themselves；　my　reliance
will　be　confidently　placed　on　pious　example；　on　religious
instruction；　and；　above　all；　on　intercession　by　prayer。　Repeat　to
your　friend；〃　he　concluded；　〃what　you　have　just　heard　me　say。　Let
him　ask　himself　if　he　could　confront　the　uncertain　future　with　my
cheerful　submission　and　my　steadfast　hope。〃

He　intrusted　me　with　that　message；　and　gave　me　his　hand。　So　we
parted。

I　agreed　with　him；　I　admired　him；　but　my　faith　seemed　to　want
sustaining　power；　as　compared　with　his　faith。　On　his　own　showing
（as　it　appeared　to　me）；　there　would　be　two　forces　in　a　state　of
conflict　in　the　child's　nature　as　she　grew　upinherited　evil
against　inculcated　good。　Try　as　I　might；　I　failed　to　feel　the
Minister's　comforting　conviction　as　to　which　of　the　two　would
win。

CHAPTER　IX。

THE　GOVERNOR　RECEIVES　A　VISIT。


A　FEW　days　after　the　good　man　had　left　us；　I　met　with　a　serious
accident；　caused　by　a　false　step　on　the　stone　stairs　of　the
prison。

The　long　illness　which　followed　this　misfortune；　and　my　removal
afterward　（in　the　interests　of　my　recovery）　to　a　milder　climate
than　the　climate　of　England；　obliged　me　to　confide　the　duties　of
governor　of　the　prison　to　a　representative。　I　was　absent　from　my
post　for　rather　more　than　a　year。　During　this　interval　no　news
reached　me　from　my　reverend　friend。

Having　returned　to　the　duties　of　my　office；　I　thought　of　writing
to　the　Minister。　While　the　proposed　letter　was　still　in
contemplation；　I　was　informed　that　a　lady　wished　to　see　me。　She
sent　in　her　card。　My　visitor　proved　to　be　the　Minister's　wife。

I　observed　her　with　no　ordinary　attention　when　she　entered　the
room。

Her　dress　was　simple；　her　scanty　light　hair；　so　far　as　I　could
see　it　under　her　bonnet；　was　dressed　with　taste。　Th　e　paleness　of
her　lips；　and　the　faded　color　in　her　face；　suggested　that　she　was
certainly　not　in　good　health。　Two　peculiarities　struck　me　in　her
personal　appearance。　I　never　remembered　having　seen　any　other
person　with　such　a　singularly　narrow　and　slanting　forehead　as
this　lady　presented；　and　I　was　impressed；　not　at　all　agreeably；
by　the　flashing　shifting　expression　in　her　eyes。　On　the　other
hand；　let　me　own　that　I　was　powerfully　attracted　and　interested
by　the　beauty　of　her　voice。　Its　fine　variety　of　compass；　and　its
musical　resonance　of　tone；　fell　with　such　enchantment　on　the　ear；
that　I　should　have　liked　to　put　a　book　of　poetry　into　her　hand；
and　to　have　heard　her　read　it　in　summer…time；　accompanied　by　the
music　of　a　rocky　stream。

The　object　of　her　visitso　far　as　she　explained　it　at　the
outsetappeared　to　be　to　offer　her　congratulations　on　my
recovery；　and　to　tell　me　that　her　husband　had　assumed　the　charge
of　a　church　in　a　large　town　not　far　from　her　birthplace。

Even　those　commonplace　words　were　made　interesting　by　her
delicious　voice。　But　however　sensitive　to　sweet　sounds　a　man　may
be；　there　are　limits　to　his　capacity　for　deceiving
himselfespecially　when　he　happens　to　be　enlightened　by
experience　of　humanity　within　the　walls　of　a　prison。　I　had；　it
may　be　remembered；　already　doubted　the　lady's　good　temper；
judging　from　her　husband's　over…wrought　description　of　her
virtues。　Her　eyes　looked　at　me　furtively；　and　her　manner；
gracefully　self…possessed　as　it　was；　suggested　that　she　had
something　of　a　delicate；　or　disagreeable；　nature　to　say　to　me；
and　that　she　was　at　a　loss　how　to　approach　the　subject　so　as　to
produce　the　right　impression　on　my　mind　at　the　outset。　There　was
a　momentary　silence　between　us。　For　the　sake　of　saying　something；
I　asked　how　she　and　the　Minister　liked　their　new　place　of
residence。

〃Our　new　place　of　residence；〃　she　answered；　〃has　been　made
interesting　by　a　very　unexpected　eventan　event　（how　shall　I
describe　it？）　which　has　increased　our　happiness　and　enlarged　our
family　circle。〃

There　she　stopped：　expecting　me；　as　I　fancied；　to　guess　what　she
meant。　A　woman；　and　that　woman　a　mother；　might　have　fulfilled　her
anticipations。　A　man；　and　that　man　not　listening　attentively；　was
simply　puzzled。

〃Pray　excuse　my　stupidity；〃　I　said；　〃I　don't　quite　understand
you。〃

The　lady's　temper　looked　at　me　out　of　the　lady's　shifting　eyes；
and　hid　itself　again　in　a　moment。　She　set　herself　right　in　my
estimation　by　taking　the　whole　blame　of　our　little
misunderstanding　on　her　own　innocent　shoulders。

〃I　ought　to　have　spoken　more　plainly；〃　she　said。　〃Let　me　try　what
I　can　do　now。　After　many　years　of　disappointment　in　my　married
life；　it　has　pleased　Providence　to　bestow　on　me　the
happinessthe　inexpressible　happinessof　being　a　mother。　My
baby　is　a　sweet　little　girl；　and　my　one　regret　is　that　I　cannot
nurse　her　myself。〃

My　languid　interest　in　the　Minister's　wife　was　not　stimulated　by
the　announcement　of　this　domestic　event。

I　felt　no　wish　to　see　the　〃sweet　little　girl〃；　I　was　not　even
reminded　of　another　example　of　long…deferred　maternity；　which　had
occurred　within　the　limits　of　my　own　family　circle。　All　my
sympathies　attached　themselves　to　the　sad　little　figure　of　the
adopted　child。　I　remembered　the　poor　baby　on　my　knee；　enchanted
by　the　ticking　of　my　watchI　thought　of　her；　peacefully　and
prettily　asleep　under　the　horrid　shelter　of　the　condemned
celland　it　is　hardly　too　much　to　say　that　my　heart　was　heavy；
when　I　compared　her　prospects　with　the　prospects　of　her
baby…rival。　Kind　as　he　was；　conscientious　as　he　was；　could　the
Minister　be　expected　to　admit　to　an　equal　share　in　his　love　the
child　endeared　to　him　as　a　father；　and　the　child　who　merely
reminded　him　of　an　act　of　mercy？　As　for　his　wife；　it　seemed　the
merest　waste　of　time　to　put　her　state　of　feeling　（placed　between
the　two　children）　to　the　test　of　inquiry。　I　tried　the　useless
experiment；　nevertheless。

〃It　is　pleasant　to　think；〃　I　began；　〃that　your　other　daughter〃

She　interrupted　me；　with　the　utmost　gentleness：　〃Do　you　mean　the
child　that　my　husband　was　foolish　enough　to　adopt？〃

〃Say　rather　fortunate　enough　to　adopt；〃　I　persisted。　〃As　your　own
little　girl　grows　up；　she　will　want　a　playfellow。　And　she　will
find　a　playfellow　in　that　other　child；　whom　the　good　Minister　has
taken　for　his　own。〃

〃No；　my　dear　sirnot　if　I　can　prevent　it。〃

The　contrast　between　the　cruelty　of　her　intention；　and　the
musical　beauty　of　the　voice　which　politely　expressed　it　in　those
words；　really　startled　me。　I　was　at　a　loss　how　to　answer　her；　at
the　very　time　when　I　ought　to　have　been　most　ready　to　speak。

〃You　must　surely　understand；〃　she　went　on；　〃that　we　don't　want
another　person's　child；　now　we　have　a　little　darling　of　our　own？〃

〃Does　your　husband　agree　with　you　in　that　view？〃　I　asked。

〃Oh　dear；　no！　He　said　what　you　said　just　now；　and　（oddly　enough）
almost　in　the　same　words。　But　I　don't　at　all　despair　of
persuading　him　to　change　his　mindand　you　can　help　me。〃

She　made　that　audacious　assertion　with　such　an　appearance　of
feeling　perfectly　sure　of　me；　that　my　politeness　gave　way　under
the　strain　laid　on　it。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　I　asked　sharply。

Not　in　the　least　impressed　by　my　change　of　manner；　she　took　from
the　pocket　of　her　dress　a　printed　paper。　〃You　will　find　what　I
mean　there；〃　she　repliedand　put　the　paper　into　my　hand。

It　was　an　appeal　to　the　charitable　public；　occasioned　by　the
enlargement　of　an　orphan…asylum；　with　which　I　had　been　connected
for　many　years。　What　she　meant　was　plain　enough　now。　I　said
nothing：　I　only　looked　at　her。

Pleased　to　find　that　I　was　clever　enough　to　guess　what　she　meant；
on　this　occasion；　the　Minister's　wife　informed　me　that　the
circumstances　were　all　in　our　favor。　She　still　persisted　in
taking　me　into　partnershipthe　circumstances　were　in　_our_
favor。

〃In　two　years　more；〃　she　explained；　〃the　child　of　that　detestable
creature　who　was　hangeddo　you　know；　I　cannot　even　look　at　the
little　wretch　without　thinking　of　the　gallows？will　be　old
enough　（with　your　interest　to　help　us）　to　be　received　into　the
asylum。　What　a　relief　it　will　be　to　get　rid　of　that　child！　And
how　hard　I　shall　work　at　canvassing　for　subscribers'　votes！　Your
name　will　be　a　tower　of　strength　when　I　use　it　as　a　reference。
Pardon　meyou　are　not　looking　so　pleasantly　as　usual。　Do　you　see
some　obstacles　in　our　way？〃

〃I　see　two　obstacles。〃

〃What　can　they　possibly　be？〃

For　the　second　time；　my　politeness　gave　way　under　the　strain　laid
on　it。　〃You　know　perfectly　well；〃　I　said；　〃what　one　of　the
obstacles　is。〃

〃Am　I　to　understand　that　you　contemplate　any　serious　resistance
on　the　part　of　my　husband？〃

〃Certainly！〃

She　was　unaffectedly　amused　by　my　simplicity。

〃Are　you　a　single　man？〃　she　asked。

〃I　am　a　widower。〃

〃Then　your　experience　ought　to　tell　you　that　I　know　every　weak
point　in　the　Minister's　character。　I　can　tell　him；　on　your
authority；　that　the　hateful　child　will　be　placed　in　competent　and
kindly　handsand　I　have　my　own　sweet　baby　to　plead　for　me。　With
these　advantages　in　my　favor；　do　you　actually　suppose　I　can　fail
to　make　_my_　way　of　thinking　_his_　way　of　thinking？　You　must　have
forgotten　your　own　married　life！　Suppose　we　go　on　to　the　second
of　your　two　obstacles。　I　hope　it　will　be　better　worth　considering
than　the　first。〃

〃The　second　obstacle　will　not　disappoint　you；〃　I　answered；　〃I　am
the　obstacle；　this　time。〃

〃You　refuse　to　help　me？〃

〃Positively。〃

〃Perhaps　reflection　may　alter　your　resolution？〃

〃Reflection　will　do　nothing　of　the　kind。〃

〃You　are　rude；　sir！〃

〃In　speaking　to　you；　madam；　I　have　no　alternative　but　to　speak
plainly。〃

She　rose。　Her　shifting　eyes；　for　once；　looked　at　me　steadily。

〃What　sort　of　enemy　have　I　made　of　you？〃　she　asked。　〃A　passive
enemy　who　is　content　with　refusing　to　help　me？　Or　an　active　enemy
who　will　write　to　my　husband？〃

〃It　depends　entirely；〃　I　told　her；　〃on　what　your　husband　does。　If
he　questions　me　about　you；　I　shall　tell　him　the　truth。〃

〃And　if　not？〃

〃In　that　case；　I　shall　hope　to　forget　that　you　ever　favored　me
with　a　visit。〃

In　making　this　reply　I　was　guiltless　of　any　malicious　intention。
What　evil　interpretation　she　placed
　on　my　words　it　is　impossible　for　me　to　say；　I　can　only　declare
that　some　intolerable　sense　of　injury　hurried　her　into　an
outbreak　of　rage。　Her　voice；　strained　for　the　first　time；　lost
its　tuneful　beauty　of　tone。

〃Come　and　see　us　in　two　years'　time；〃　she　burst　out〃and
discover　the　orphan　of　the　gallows　in　our　house　if　you　can！　If
your　Asylum　won't　take　her；　some　other　Charity　will。　Ha；　Mr。
Governor；　I　deserve　my　disappointment！　I　ought　to　have　remembered
that　you　are　only　a　jailer　after　all。　And　what　is　a　jailer？
Proverbially　a　brute。　Do　you　hear　that？　A　brute！〃

Her　strength　suddenly　failed　her。　She　dropped　back　into　the　chair
from　which　she　had　risen；　with　a　faint　cry　of　pain。　A　ghastly
pallor　stole　over　her　face。　There　was　wine　on　the　sideboard；　I
filled　a　glass。　She　refused　to　take　it。　At　that　time　in　the　day；
the　Doctor's　duties　required　his　attendance　in　the　prison。　I
instantly　sent　for　him。　After　a　moment's　look　at　her；　he　took　the
wine　out　of　m