the legacy of cain-第10章
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gentleman entirely unknown to me。
Those reasons which induced me to conceal the names of persons；
while I was relating events in the prison； do not apply to
correspondence with a stranger writing from another place。 I may；
therefore； mention that Mr。 Dunboyne； of Fairmount； on the west
coast of Ireland； was the writer of the letter now addressed to
me。 He proved； to my surprise； to be one of the relations whom
the Prisoner under sentence of death had not cared to see； when I
offered her the opportunity of saying farewell。 Mr。 Dunboyne was
a brother…in…law of the murderess。 He had married her sister。
His wife； he informed me； had died in childbirth； leaving him but
one consolationa boy； who already recalled all that was
brightest and best in his lost mother。 The father was naturally
anxious that the son should never become acquainted with the
disgrace that had befallen the family。
The letter then proceeded in these terms：
〃I heard yesterday； for the first time； by means of an old
newspaper…cutting sent to me by a friend； that the miserable
woman who suffered the ignominy of public execution has left an
infant child。 Can you tell me what has become of the orphan？ If
this little girl is； as I fear； not well provided for； I only do
what my wife would have done if she had lived； by offering to
make the child's welfare my especial care。 I am willing to place
her in an establishment well known to me； in which she will be
kindly treated； well educated； and fitted to earn her own living
honorably in later life。
〃If you feel some surprise at finding that my good intentions
toward this ill…fated niece of mine do not go to the length of
receiving her as a member of my own family； I beg to submit some
considerations which may perhaps weigh with you as they have
weighed with me。
〃In the first place； there is at least a possibilityhowever
carefully I might try to conceal itthat the child's parentage
would sooner or later be discovered。 In the second place （and
assuming that the parentage had been successfully concealed）； if
this girl and my boy grew up together； there is another
possibility to be reckoned with： they might become attached to
each other。 Does the father live who would allow his son
ignorantly to marry the daughter of a convicted murderess？ I
should have no alternative but to part them cruelly by revealing
the truth。〃 The letter ended with some complimentary expressions
addressed to myself。 And the question was： how ought I to answer
it？
My correspondent had strongly impressed me in his favor； I could
not doubt that he was an honorable man。 But the interest of the
Minister in keeping his own benevolent action secure from the
risk of discoveryincreased as that interest was by the filial
relations of the two children toward him； now publicly
establishedhad； as I could not doubt； the paramount claim on
me。 The absolutely safe course to take was to admit no one；
friend or stranger； to our confidence。 I replied； expressing
sincere admiration of Mr。 Dunboyne's motives； and merely
informing him that the child was already provided for。
After that； I heard no more of the Irish gentleman。
It is perhaps hardly necessary to add that I kept the Minister in
ignorance of my correspondence with Mr。 Dunboyne。 I was too well
acquainted with my friend's sensitive and self…tormenting nature
to let him know that a relative of the murderess was living； and
was aware that she had left a child。
A last event remains to be related； before I close these pages。
During the year of which I am now writing； our Chaplain added one
more to the many examples that I have seen of his generous
readiness to serve his friends。 He had arranged to devote his
annual leave of absence to a tour among the English Lakes； when
he received a letter from a clergyman resident in London； whom he
had known from the time when they had been school…fellows。 This
old friend wrote under circumstances of the severest domestic
distress； which made it absolutely necessary that he should leave
London for a while。 Having failed to find a representative who
could relieve him of his clerical duties； he applied to the
Chaplain to recommend a clergyman who might be in a position to
help him。 My excellent colleague gave up his holiday…plans
without hesitation； and went to London himself。
On his return； I asked if he had seen anything of some
acquaintances of his and of mine； who were then visitors to the
metropolis。 He smiled significantly when he answered me。
〃I have a card to deliver from an acquaintance whom you have not
mentioned；〃 he said； 〃and I rather think it will astonish you。〃
It simply puzzled me。 When he gave me the card； this is what I
found printed on it：
〃MRS。 TENERUGGEN （OF SOUTH BEVELAND）。〃
〃Well？〃 said the Chaplain。
〃Well；〃 I answered； 〃I never even heard of Mrs。 Tenbruggen； of
South Beveland。 Who is she？〃
〃I married the lady to a foreign gentleman； only last week； at my
friend's church；〃 the Chaplain replied。 〃Perhaps you may remember
her maiden name？〃
He mentioned the name of the dangerous creature who had first
presented herself to me； in charge of the Prisoner's
childotherwise Miss Elizabeth Chance。 The reappearance of this
woman on the scenealthough she was only represented by her
cardcaused me a feeling of vague uneasiness； so contemptibly
superstitious in its nature that I now remember it with shame。 I
asked a stupid question：
〃How did it happen？〃
〃In the ordinary course of such things；〃 my friend said。 〃They
were married by license； in their parish church。 The bridegroom
was a fine tall man； with a bold eye and a dashing manner。 The
bride and I recognized each other directly。 When Miss Chance had
become Mrs。 Tenbruggen； she took me aside； and gave me her card。
'Ask the Governor to accept it；' she said； 'in remembrance of the
time when he took me for a nursemaid。 Tell him I am married to a
Dutch gentleman of high family。 If he ever comes to Holland； we
shall be glad to see him in our residence at South Beveland。'
There is her message to you； repeated word for word。〃
〃I am glad she is going to live out of England。〃
〃Why？ Surely you have no reason to fear her？〃
〃None whatever。〃
〃You are thinking； perhaps； of somebody else？〃
I was thinking of the Minister； but it seemed to be safest not to
say so。
…
My pen is laid aside； and my many pages of writing have been sent
to their destination。 What I undertook to do； is now done。 To
take a metaphor from the stagethe curtain falls here on the
Governor and the Prison。
Second Period： 1875。
THE GIRLS AND THE JOURNALS。
CHAPTER XI。
HELENA'S DIARY。
WE both said good…night； and went up to our room with a new
object in view。 By our father's advice we had resolved on keeping
diaries； for the first time in our lives； and had pledged
ourselves to begin before we went to bed。
Slowly and silently and lazily； my sister sauntered to her end of
the room and seated herself at her writing…table。 On the desk lay
a nicely bound book； full of blank pages。 The word 〃Journal〃 was
printed on it in gold letters； and there was fitted to the covers
a bright brass lock and key。 A second journal； exactly similar in
every respect to the first； was placed on the writing…table at my
end of the room。 I opened my book。 The sight of the blank leaves
irritated me； they were so smooth； so spotless； so entirely ready
to do _their_ duty。 I took too deep a dip of ink； and began the
first entry in my diary by making a blot。 This was discouraging。
I got up； and looked out of window。
〃Helena！〃
My sister's voice could hardly have addressed me in a more weary
tone； if her pen had been at work all night； relating domestic
events。 〃Well！〃 I said。 〃What is it？〃
〃Have you done already？〃 she asked。
I showed her the blot。 My sister Eunice （the strangest as well as
the dearest of girls） always blurts out what she has in her mind
at the time。 She fixed her eyes gravely on my spoiled page； and
said： 〃That comforts me。〃 I crossed the room； and looked at her
book。 She had not even summoned energy enough to make a blot。
〃What will papa think of us；〃 she said； 〃if we don't
