the legacy of cain-第2章
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the case of the Prisoner now waiting for execution； no person a
pplied to the authorities for permission to see her。 I myself
inquired if she had any relations living； and if she would like
to see them。 She answered： 〃None that I care to see； or that care
to see meexcept the nearest relation of all。〃
In those last words the miserable creature alluded to her only
child； a little girl （an infant； I should say）； who had passed
her first year's birthday by a few months。 The farewell interview
was to take place on the mother's last evening on earth； and the
child was now brought into my rooms； in charge of her nurse。
I had seldom seen a brighter or prettier little girl。 She was
just able to walk alone； and to enjoy the first delight of moving
from one place to another。 Quite of her own accord she came to
me； attracted I daresay by the glitter of my watch…chain。 Helping
her to climb on my knee； I showed the wonders of the watch； and
held it to her ear。 At that past time； death had taken my good
wife from me； my two boys were away at Harrow School； my domestic
life was the life of a lonely man。 Whether I was reminded of the
bygone days when my sons were infants on my knee； listening to
the ticking of my watchor whether the friendless position of
the poor little creature； who had lost one parent and was soon to
lose the other by a violent death； moved me in depths of pity not
easily reached in my later experienceI am not able to say。 This
only I know： my heart ached for the child while she was laughing
and listening； and something fell from me on the watch which I
don't deny might have been a tear。 A few of the toys； mostly
broken now； which my two children used to play with are still in
my possession； kept； like my poor wife's favorite jewels； for old
remembrance' sake。 These I took from their repository when the
attraction of my watch showed signs of failing。 The child pounced
on them with her chubby hands； and screamed with pleasure。 And
the hangman was waiting for her motherand； more horrid still；
the mother deserved it！
My duty required me to let the Prisoner know that her little
daughter had arrived。 Did that heart of iron melt at last？ It
might have been so； or it might not； the message sent back kept
her secret。 All that it said to me was： 〃Let the child wait till
I send for her。〃
The Minister had consented to help us。 On his arrival at the
prison； I received him privately in my study。
I had only to look at his facepitiably pale and agitatedto
see that he was a sensitive man； not always able to control his
nerves on occasions which tried his moral courage。 A kind； I
might almost say a noble face； and a voice unaffectedly
persuasive； at once prepossessed me in his favor。 The few words
of welcome that I spoke were intended to compose him。 They failed
to produce the impression on which I had counted。
〃My experience；〃 he said； 〃has included many melancholy duties；
and has tried my composure in terrible scenes； but I have never
yet found myself in the presence of an unrepentant criminal；
sentenced to deathand that criminal a woman and a mother。 I
own； sir； that I am shaken by the prospect before me。〃
I suggested that he should wait a while； in the hope that time
and quiet might help him。 He thanked me； and refused。
〃If I have any knowledge of myself；〃 he said； 〃terrors of
anticipation lose their hold when I am face to face with a
serious call on me。 The longer I remain here； the less worthy I
shall appear of the trust that has been placed in methe trust
which； please God； I mean to deserve。〃
My own observation of human nature told me that this was wisely
said。 I led the way at once to the cell。
CHAPTER IV。
THE MINISTER SAYS YES。
THE Prisoner was seated on her bed； quietly talking with the
woman appointed to watch her。 When she rose to receive us； I saw
the Minister start。 The face that confronted him would； in my
opinion； have taken any man by surprise； if he had first happened
to see it within the walls of a prison。
Visitors to the picture…galleries of Italy； growing weary of Holy
Families in endless succession； observe that the idea of the
Madonna； among the rank and file of Italian Painters； is limited
to one changeless and familiar type。 I can hardly hope to be
believed when I say that the personal appearance of the murderess
recalled that type。 She presented the delicate light hair； the
quiet eyes； the finely…shaped lower features and the correctly
oval form of face； repeated in hundreds on hundreds of the
conventional works of Art to which I have ventured to allude。 To
those who doubt me； I can only declare that what I have here
written is undisguised and absolute truth。 Let me add that daily
observation of all classes of criminals； extending over many
years； has considerably diminished my faith in physiognomy as a
safe guide to the discovery of character。 Nervous trepidation
looks like guilt。 Guilt； firmly sustained by insensibility； looks
like innocence。 One of the vilest wretches ever placed under my
charge won the sympathies （while he was waiting for his trial） of
every person who saw him； including even the persons employed in
the prison。 Only the other day； ladies and gentlemen coming to
visit me passed a body of men at work on the road。 Judges of
physiognomy among them were horrified at the criminal atrocity
betrayed in every face that they noticed。 They condoled with me
on the near neighborhood of so many convicts to my official place
of residence。 I looked out of the window and saw a group of
honest laborers （whose only crime was poverty） employed by the
parish！
Having instructed the female warder to leave the roombut to
take care that she waited within callI looked again at the
Minister。
Confronted by the serious responsibility that he had undertaken；
he justified what he had said to me。 Still pale； still
distressed； he was now nevertheless master of himself。 I turned
to the door to leave him alone with the Prisoner。 She called me
back。
〃Before this gentleman tries to convert me；〃 she said； 〃I want
you to wait here and be a witness。〃
Finding that we were both willing to comply with this request；
she addressed herself directly to the Minister。 〃Suppose I
promise to listen to your exhortations；〃 she began； 〃what do you
promise to do for me in return？〃
The voice in which she spoke to him was steady and clear； a
marked contrast to the tremulous earnestness with which he
answered her。
〃I promise to urge you to repentance and the confession of your
crime。 I promise to implore the divine blessing on me in the
effort to save your poor guilty soul。〃
She looked at him； and listened to him； as if he was speaking to
her in an unknown tongue； and went on with what she had to say as
quietly as ever。
〃When I am hanged to…morrow； suppose I die without confessing；
without repentingare you one of those who believe I shall be
doomed to eternal punishment in another life？〃
〃I believe in the mercy of God。〃
〃Answer my question； if you please。 Is an impenitent sinner
eternally punished？ Do you believe that？〃
〃My Bible leaves me no other alternative。〃
She paused for a while； evidently considering with special
attention what she was about to say next。
〃As a religious man；〃 she resumed； 〃would you be willing to make
some sacrifice； rather than let a fellow…creature goafter a
disgraceful deathto everlasting torment？〃
〃I know of no sacrifice in my power；〃 he said； fervently； 〃to
which I would not rather submit than let you die in the present
dreadful state of your mind。〃
The Prisoner turned to me。 〃Is the person who watches me waiting
outside？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Will you be so kind as to call her in？ I have a message for
her。〃
It was plain that she had been leading the way to the delivery of
that message； whatever it might be； in all that she had said up
to the present time。 So far my poor powers of penetration helped
me； and no further。
The warder appeared； and received her message。 〃Tell the woman
who has come here with my little girl that I want to see the
child。〃
Taken completely by surprise； I signed to the attendant to wait
for further instruction
