the legacy of cain-第6部分

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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　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