the foreigner-第7部分

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〃But　they　will　take　you；〃　cried　the　woman。

〃Bah！　　They　could　not　hold　me　in　Siberia；　and　think　you　they　can　in　this　land？　　But　the　children；〃　he　mused。　　〃Rosenblatt　away。〃　　With　a　sudden　resolve　he　turned　to　the　woman。　　〃Woman；〃　he　said；　in　a　voice　stern　and　low；　〃could　you〃

She　threw　herself　once　more　at　his　feet　in　a　passion　of　entreaty。　〃Oh；　my　lord！　　Let　me　live　for　them；　for　themandfor　you！〃

〃For　me？〃　he　said　coldly。　　〃No。　　You　have　dishonoured　my　name。　　You　are　wife　of　mine　no　longer。　　Do　you　hear　this？〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　she　panted；　〃I　hear。　　I　know。　　I　ask　nothing　for　myself。　　But　the　children；　your　children。　　I　would　live　for　them；　would　die　for　them！〃

He　turned　from　her　and　gazed　through　the　window；　pondering。　　That　she　would　be　faithful　to　the　children　he　well　knew。　　That　she　would　gladly　die　for　him；　he　was　equally　certain。　　With　Rosenblatt　removed；　the　house　would　be　rid　of　the　cause　of　her　fall　and　her　shame。　　There　was　no　one　else　in　this　strange　land　to　whom　he　could　trust　his　children。　　Should　death　or　exile　take　him　in　his　work　and　these　were　always　his　companionshis　children　would　be　quite　alone。　　Once　more　he　turned　and　looked　down　upon　the　kneeling　woman。　　He　had　no　love　for　her。　　He　had　never　loved　her。　　Simply　as　a　matter　of　convenience　he　had　married　her；　that　she　might　care　for　the　children　of　his　dead　wife　whom　he　had　loved　with　undying　and　passionate　love。

〃Paulina；〃　he　said　solemnly；　but　the　contempt　was　gone　from　his　voice；　〃you　are　henceforth　no　wife　of　mine；　but　my　children　I　give　into　your　care。〃

Hitherto；　during　the　whole　interview；　she　had　shed　no　tear；　but　at　these　words　of　his　she　flung　her　arms　about　his　knees　and　burst　into　a　passion　of　weeping。

〃Oh；　my　lord！　　My　dear　lord！　　Oh；　my　lord！　my　lord！〃　she　sobbed；　wildly　kissing　his　very　boots。

He　drew　away　from　her　and　sat　down　upon　a　bench。

〃Listen；〃　he　said。　　〃I　will　send　you　money。　　You　will　require　to　take　no　man　into　your　house　for　your　support。　　Is　there　any　one　to　whom　I　could　send　the　money　for　you？〃

She　thought　for　a　few　moments。

〃There　is　one；〃　she　said；　〃but　she　does　not　love　me。　　She　will　come　no　longer　into　my　house。　　She　thinks　me　a　bad　woman。〃　　Her　voice　sank　low。　　Her　face　flamed　a　dark　red。

〃Aha；〃　said　the　man；　〃I　would　see　that　woman。　　To…morrow　you　will　bring　me　to　her。　　At　dusk　to…morrow　I　will　pass　your　house。　　You　will　meet　me。　　Now　go。〃

She　remained　kneeling　in　her　place。　　Then　she　crawled　nearer　his　feet。

〃Oh；　my　lord！〃　she　sobbed；　〃I　have　done　wrong。　　Will　you　not　beat　me？　　Beat　me　till　the　blood　runs　down。　　He　was　too　strong　for　me。　I　was　afraid　for　the　children。　　I　had　no　place　to　go。　　I　did　a　great　wrong。　　If　my　lord　would　but　beat　me　till　the　blood　runs　down；　it　would　be　a　joy　to　me。〃

It　was　the　cry　of　justice　making　itself　heard　through　her　dull　soul。　　It　was　the　instinctive　demand　for　atonement。　　It　was　the　unconscious　appeal　for　reinstatement　to　the　privileges　of　wifehood。

〃Woman；〃　he　said　sternly；　〃a　man　may　beat　his　wife。　　He　will　not　strike　a　woman　that　is　nothing　to　him。　　Go。〃

Once　more　she　clutched　his　feet；　kissing　them。　　Then　she　rose　and　without　a　word　went　out　into　the　dusky　night。　　She　had　entered　upon　the　rugged　path　of　penitence；　the　only　path　to　peace　for　the　sinner。

After　she　had　gone；　the　man　stepped　to　the　door　and　looked　after　her　as　if　meditating　her　recall。

〃Bah！〃　he　said　at　length；　〃she　is　nothing　to　me。　　Let　her　go。〃

He　put　out　the　light；　closed　the　door　and　passing　through　the　crowd　of　revellers；　went　off　to　Simon's　house。



CHAPTER　V

THE　PATRIOT'S　HEART


The　inside　of　Paulina's　house　was　a　wreck。　　The　remains　of　benches　and　chairs　and　tables　mingled　with　fragments　of　vessels　of　different　sorts　strewn　upon　the　filth…littered　floor；　the　windows　broken；　the　door　between　the　outer　and　inner　rooms　torn　from　its　hinges；　all　this　debris；　together　with　the　battered；　bruised　and　bloody　human　shapes　lying　amidst　their　filth；　gave　eloquent　testimony　to　the　tempestuous　character　of　the　proceedings　of　the　previous　night。

The　scene　that　greeted　Paulina's　eyes　in　the　early　grey　of　the　morning　might　well　have　struck　a　stouter　heart　than　hers　with　dismay；　for　her　house　had　the　look　of　having　been　swept　by　a　tornado；　and　Paulina's　heart　was　anything　but　stout　that　morning。　The　sudden　appearance　of　her　husband　had　at　first　stricken　her　with　horrible　fear；　the　fear　of　death；　but　this　fear　had　passed　into　a　more　dreadful　horror；　that　of　repudiation。

Seven　years　ago；　when　Michael　Kalmar　had　condescended　to　make　her　his　wife；　her　whole　soul　had　gone　forth　to　him　in　a　passion　of　adoring　love　that　had　invested　him　in　a　halo　of　glory。　　He　became　her　god　thenceforth　to　worship　and　to　serve。　　Her　infidelity　meant　no　diminution　of　this　passion。　　Withdrawn　from　her　husband's　influence；　left　without　any　sign　of　his　existence　for　two　years　or　more；　subjected　to　the　machinations　of　the　subtle　and　unscrupulous　Rosenblatt；　the　soul　in　her　had　died；　the　animal　had　lived　and　triumphed。　　The　sound　of　her　husband's　voice　last　night　had　summoned　into　vivid　life　her　dead　soul。　　Her　god　had　moved　into　the　range　of　her　vision；　and　immediately　she　was　his　again；　soul　and　body。　　Hence　her　sudden　fury　at　Rosenblatt；　hence；　too；　the　utter　self…abandonment　in　her　appeal　to　her　husband。　　But　now　he　had　cast　her　off。　　The　gates　of　Heaven；　swinging　open　before　her　ravished　eyes　for　a　few　brief　moments；　had　closed　to　her　forever。　　Small　wonder　that　she　brought　a　heavy　heart　to　the　righting　of　her　disordered　home；　and　well　for　her　that　Anka　with　her　hearty；　cheery　courage　stood　at　her　side　that　morning。

Together　they　set　themselves　to　clear　away　the　filth　and　the　wreckage；　human　and　otherwise。　　Of　the　human　wreckage　Anka　made　short　work。　　Stepping　out　into　the　frosty　air；　she　returned　with　a　pail　of　snow。

〃Here；　you　sluggards；〃　she　cried；　bestowing　generous　handfuls　upon　their　sodden　faces；　〃up　with　you；　and　out。　　The　day　is　fine　and　dinner　will　soon　be　here。〃

Grunting；　growling；　cursing；　the　men　rose；　stretched　themselves　with　prodigious　yawning；　and　bundled　out　into　the　frosty　air。

〃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；　th