the legacy of cain-第6章
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〃You seem to have forgotten；〃 I reminded him； 〃that the child
will have every advantage that education can offer to her； and
will be accustomed from her earliest years to restraining and
purifying influences； in a clergyman's household。〃
Now that he was enjoying the fumes of tobacco； the Doctor was as
placid and sweet…tempered as a man could be。
〃Quite true；〃 he said。
〃Do you doubt the influence of religion？〃 I asked sternly。
He answered； sweetly： 〃Not at all〃
〃Or the influence of kindness？〃
〃Oh； dear； no！〃
〃Or the force of example？〃
〃I wouldn't deny it for the world。〃
I had not expected this extraordinary docility。 The Doctor had
got the upper hand of me againa state of thing s that I might
have found it hard to endure； but for a call of duty which put an
end to our sitting。 One of the female warders appeared with a
message from the condemned cell。 The Prisoner wished to see the
Governor and the Medical Officer。
〃Is she ill？〃 the Doctor inquired。
〃No； sir。〃
〃Hysterical？ or agitated； perhaps？〃
〃As easy and composed； sir； as a person can be。〃
We set forth together for the condemned cell。
CHAPTER VII。
THE MURDERESS CONSULTS THE AUTHORITIES。
THERE was a considerate side to my friend's character； which
showed itself when the warder had left us。
He was especially anxious to be careful of what he said to a
woman in the Prisoner's terrible situation； especially in the
event of her having been really subjected to the influence of
religious belief。 On the Minister's own authority； I declared
that there was every reason to adopt this conclusion； and in
support of what I had said I showed him the confession。 It only
contained a few lines； acknowledging that she had committed the
murder and that she deserved her sentence。 〃From the planning of
the crime to the commission of the crime； I was in my right
senses throughout。 I knew what I was doing。〃 With that remarkable
disavowal of the defense set up by her advocate； the confession
ended。
My colleague read the paper； and handed it back to me without
making any remark。 I asked if he suspected the Prisoner of
feigning conversion to please the Minister。
〃She shall not discover it；〃 he answered； gravely； 〃if I do。〃
It would not be true to say that the Doctor's obstinacy had
shaken my belief in the good result of the Minister's
interference。 I may； however； acknowledge that I felt some
misgivings； which were not dispelled when I found myself in the
presence of the Prisoner。
I had expected to see her employed in reading the Bible。 The good
book was closed and was not even placed within her reach。 The
occupation to which she was devoting herself astonished and
repelled me。
Some carelessness on the part of the attendant had left on the
table the writing materials that had been needed for her
confession。 She was using them nowwhen death on the scaffold
was literally within a few hours of herto sketch a portrait of
the female warder； who was on the watch！ The Doctor and I looked
at each other； and now the sincerity of her repentance was
something that I began to question； too。
She laid down the pen； and proceeded quietly to explain herself。
〃Even the little time that is left to me proves to be a weary
time to get through；〃 she said。 〃I am making a last use of the
talent for drawing and catching a likeness； which has been one of
my gifts since I was a girl。 You look as if you didn't approve of
such employment as this for a woman who is going to be hanged。
Well； sir； I have no doubt you are right。〃 She paused； and tore
up the portrait。 〃If I have misbehaved myself；〃 she resumed； 〃I
make amends。 To find you in an indulgent frame of mind is of
importance to me just now。 I have a favor to ask of you。 May the
warder leave the cell for a few minutes？〃
Giving the woman permission to withdraw for a while； I waited
with some anxiety to hear what the Prisoner wanted of me。
〃I have something to say to you；〃 she proceeded； 〃on the subject
of executions。 The face of a person who is going to be hanged is
hidden； as I have been told； by a white cap drawn over it。 Is
that true？〃
How another man might have felt； in my place； I cannot； of
course； say。 To my mind； such a questionon _her_ lipswas too
shocking to be answered in words。 I bowed。
〃And the body is buried；〃 she went on； 〃in the prison？〃
I could remain silent no longer。 〃Is there no human feeling left
in you？〃 I burst out。 〃What do these horrid questions mean？〃
〃Don't be angry with me； sir； you shall hear directly。 I want to
know first if I am to be buried in the prison？〃
I replied as before； by a bow。
〃Now；〃 she said； 〃I may tell you what I mean。 In the autumn of
last year I was taken to see some waxworks。 Portraits of
criminals were among them。 There was one portrait〃 She
hesitated； her infernal self…possession failed her at last。 The
color left her face； she was no longer able to look at me firmly。
〃There was one portrait；〃 she resumed； 〃that had been taken after
the execution。 The face was so hideous； it was swollen to such a
size in its frightful deformityoh； sir； don't let me be seen in
that state； even by the strangers who bury me！ Use your
influenceforbid them to take the cap off my face when I am
deadorder them to bury me in it； and I swear to you I'll meet
death tomorrow as coolly as the boldest man that ever mounted the
scaffold！〃 Before I could stop her； she seized me by the hand；
and wrung it with a furious power that left the mark of her grasp
on me； in a bruise； for days afterward。 〃Will you do it？〃 she
cried。 〃You're an honorable man； you will keep your word。 Give me
your promise！〃
I gave her my promise。
The relief to her tortured spirit expressed itself horribly in a
burst of frantic laughter。 〃I can't help it；〃 she gasped； 〃I'm so
happy。〃
My enemies said of me； when I got my appointment； that I was too
excitable a man to be governor of a prison。 Perhaps they were not
altogether wrong。 Anyhow； the quick…witted Doctor saw some change
in me； which I was not aware of myself。 He took my arm and led me
out of the cell。 〃Leave her to me；〃 he whispered。 〃The fine edge
of my nerves was worn off long ago in the hospital。〃
When we met again； I asked what had passed between the Prisoner
and himself。
〃I gave her time to recover；〃 he told me； 〃and； except that she
looked a little paler than usual； there was no trace left of the
frenzy that you remember。 'I ought to apologize for troubling
you；' she said； 'but it is perhaps natural that I should think；
now and then； of what is to happen to me to…morrow morning。 As a
medical man； you will be able to enlighten me。 Is death by
hanging a painful death？' She had put it so politely that I felt
bound to answer her。 'If the neck happens to be broken；' I said；
'hanging is a sudden death； fright and pain （if there is any
pain） are both over in an instant。 As to the other form of death
which is also possible （I mean death by suffocation）； I must own
as an honest man that I know no more about it than you do。' After
considering a little； she made a sensible remark； and followed it
by an embarrassing request。 'A great deal；' she said； 'must
depend on the executioner。 I am not afraid of death； Doctor。 Why
should I be？ My anxiety about my little girl is set at rest； I
have nothing left to live for。 But I don't like pain。 Would you
mind telling the executioner to be careful？ Or would it be better
if I spoke to him myself？' I said I thought it would come with a
better grace from herself。 She understood me directly； and we
dropped the subject。 Are you surprised at her coolness； after
your experience of her？〃
I confessed that I was surprised。
〃Think a little；〃 the Doctor said。 〃The one sensitive place in
that woman's nature is the place occupied by her self…esteem。〃
I objected to this that she had shown fondness for her child。
My friend disposed of the objection with his customary readiness。
〃The maternal instinct；〃 he said。 〃A cat is fond of her kittens；
a cow is fond of her calf。 No； sir； the one cause of that
outbreak of passion which so shocked youa genuine outbreak；
beyond all doubtis to be found i
