the legacy of cain-第4章
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benevolent decision； on the part of the good Minister； of which I
had been a witness。 The Doctor listened to me with the first
appearance of downright astonishment that I had ever observed in
his face。 When I had done； he made an extraordinary reply：
〃Governor； I retract what I said of the parson just now。 He is
one of the boldest men that ever stepped into a pulpit。〃
Was the doctor in e arnest？ Strongly in earnest； there could be
no doubt of it。 Before I could ask him what he meant； he was
called away to a patient on the other side of the prison。 When we
parted at the door of my room； I made it a request that my
medical friend would return to me and explain what he had just
said。
〃Considering that you are the governor of a prison；〃 he replied；
〃you are a singularly rash man。 If I come back； how do you know I
shall not bore you？〃
〃My rashness runs the risk of that；〃 I rejoined。
〃Tell me something； before I allow you to run your risk；〃 he
said。 〃Are you one of those people who think that the tempers of
children are formed by the accidental influences which happen to
be about them？ Or do you agree with me that the tempers of
children are inherited from their parents？〃
The Doctor （as I concluded） was still strongly impressed by the
Minister's resolution to adopt a child whose wicked mother had
committed the most atrocious of all crimes。 Was some serious
foreboding in secret possession of his mind？ My curiosity to hear
him was now increased tenfold。 I replied without hesitation：
〃I agree with you。〃
He looked at me with his sense of humor twinkling in his eyes。
〃Do you know I rather expected that answer？〃 he said； slyly。 〃All
right。 I'll come back。〃
Left by myself； I took up the day's newspaper。
My attention wandered； my thoughts were in the cell with the
Minister and the Prisoner。 How would it end？ Sometimes； I was
inclined to doubt with the Doctor。 Sometimes； I took refuge in my
own more hopeful view。 These idle reflections were agreeably
interrupted by the appearance of my friend； the Chaplain。
〃You are always welcome；〃 I said； 〃and doubly welcome just now。 I
am feeling a little worried and anxious。〃
〃And you are naturally；〃 the Chaplain added； not at all disposed
to receive a stranger？〃
〃Is the stranger a friend of yours？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； no！ Having occasion； just now； to go into the waiting…room；
I found a young woman there； who asked me if she could see you。
She thinks you have forgotten her； and she is tired of waiting。 I
merely undertook； of course； to mention what she had said to me。〃
The nurse having been in this way recalled to my memory； I felt
some little interest in seeing her； after what had passed in the
cell。 In plainer words； I was desirous of judging for myself
whether she deserved the hostile feeling which the Prisoner had
shown toward her。 I thanked the Chaplain before he left me； and
gave the servant the necessary instructions。 When she entered the
room； I looked at the woman attentively for the first time。
Youth and a fine complexion； a well…made figure and a natural
grace of movementthese were her personal attractions； so far as
I could see。 Her defects were； to my mind； equally noticeable。
Under a heavy forehead； her piercing eyes looked out at persons
and things with an expression which was not to my taste。 Her
large mouthanother defect； in my opinionwould have been
recommended to mercy； in the estimation of many men； by her
magnificent teeth； white； well…shaped； cruelly regular。 Believers
in physiognomy might perhaps have seen the betrayal of an
obstinate nature in the lengthy firmness of her chin。 While I am
trying to describe her； let me not forget her dress。 A woman's
dress is the mirror in which we may see the reflection of a
woman's nature。 Bearing in mind the melancholy and impressive
circumstances under which she had brought the child to the
prison； the gayety of color in her gown and her bonnet implied
either a total want of feeling； or a total want of tact。 As to
her position in life； let me confess that I felt； after a closer
examination； at a loss to determine it。 She was certainly not a
lady。 The Prisoner had spoken of her as if she was a domestic
servant who had forfeited her right to consideration and respect。
And she had entered the prison； as a nurse might have entered it；
in charge of a child。 I did what we all do when we are not clever
enough to find the answer to a riddleI gave it up。
〃What can I do for you？〃 I asked。
〃Perhaps you can tell me；〃 she answered； 〃how much longer I am to
be kept waiting in this prison。〃
〃The decision；〃 I reminded her； 〃doesn't depend on me。〃
〃Then who does it depend on？〃
The Minister had undoubtedly acquired the sole right of deciding。
It was for him to say whether this woman should； or should not；
remain in attendance on the child whom he had adopted。 In the
meanwhile； the feeling of distrust which was gaining on my mind
warned me to remember the value of reserve in holding intercourse
with a stranger。
She seemed to be irritated by my silence。 〃If the decision
doesn't rest with you；〃 she asked； 〃why did you tell me to stay
in the waiting…room？〃
〃You brought the little girl into the prison；〃 I said； 〃was it
not natural to suppose that your mistress might want you〃
〃Stop； sir！〃
I had evidently given offense； I stopped directly。
〃No person on the face of the earth；〃 she declared； loftily； 〃has
ever had the right to call herself my mistress。 Of my own free
will； sir； I took charge of the child。〃
〃Because you are fond of her？〃 I suggested。
〃I hate her。〃
It was unwise on my partI protested。 〃Hate a baby little more
than a year old！〃 I said。
〃_Her_ baby！〃
She said it with the air of a woman who had produced an
unanswerable reason。 〃I am accountable to nobody；〃 she went on。
〃If I consented to trouble myself with the child； it was in
remembrance of my friendshipnotice； if you please； that I say
friendshipwith the unhappy father。〃
Putting together what I had just heard； and what I had seen in
the cell； I drew the right conclusion at last。 The woman； whose
position in life had been thus far an impenetrable mystery to me；
now stood revealed as one； among other objects of the Prisoner's
jealousy； during her disastrous married life。 A serious doubt
occurred to me as to the authority under which the husband's
mistress might be acting； after the husband's death。 I instantly
put it to the test。
〃Do I understand you to assert any claim to the child？〃 I asked。
〃Claim？〃 she repeated。 〃I know no more of the child than you do。
I heard for the first time that such a creature was in existence；
when her murdered father sent for me in his dying moments。 At his
entreaty I promised to take care of her； while her vile mother
was out of the house and in the hands of the law。 My promise has
been performed。 If I am expected （having brought her to the
prison） to take her away again； understand this： I am under no
obligation （even if I could afford it） to burden myself with that
child； I shall hand her over to the workhouse authorities。〃
I forgot myself once moreI lost my temper。
〃Leave the room；〃 I said。 〃Your unworthy hands will not touch the
poor baby again。 She is provided for。〃
〃I don't believe you！〃 the wretch burst out。 〃Who has taken the
child？〃
A quiet voice answered： 〃_I_ have taken her。〃
We both looked round and saw the Minister standing in the open
doorway； with the child in his arms。 The ordeal that he had gone
through in the condemned cell was visible in his face； he looked
miserably haggard and broken。 I was eager to know if his merciful
interest in the Prisoner had purified her guilty soulbut at the
same time I was afraid； after what he had but too plainly
suffered； to ask him to enter into details。
〃Only one word；〃 I said。 〃Are your anxieties at rest？〃
〃God's mercy has helped me；〃 he answered。 〃I have not spoken in
vain。 She believes； she repents； she has confessed the crime。〃
After handing the written and signed confession to me； he
approached the venomous creature； still lingering in the room to
hear what passed between us。 Before I could stop him； he spoke to
