the foreigner-第11章
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Timothy was undoubtedly excited。 The traditions of a hundred years of fierce rebellion against the oppression of the 〃bloody tyrant〃 were beating at his brain and in his heart。 The Russian caught fire from him and launched forth upon his tale。 For a full hour； now sitting in his chair； now raging up and down the room； now in a voice deep； calm and terrible； now broken and hoarse with sobs； he recounted deeds of blood and fire that made Ireland's struggle and Ireland's wrongs seem nursery rhymes。
Timothy listened to the terrible story in an ecstasy of alternating joy and fury； according to the nature of the episode related。 It was like living again the glorious days of the moonlighters and the rackrenters in dear old Ireland。 The tale came to an abrupt end。
〃An' thin what happened？〃 cried Timothy。
〃Then；〃 said the Russian quietly； 〃then it was Siberia。〃
〃Siberia！ The Hivins be about us！〃 said Tim in an awed voice。 〃But ye got away？〃
〃I am here；〃 he replied simply。
〃Be the sowl of Moses； ye are！ An' wud ye go back agin？〃 cried Tim in horror。
〃Wud he！〃 said Nora； with ineffable scorn。 〃Wud a herrin' swim？ By coorse he'll go back。 An' what's more； ye can sind the money to me an' I'll see that the childer gets the good av it； if I've to wring the neck av that black haythen； Rosenblatt； like a chicken。〃
〃You will take the money for my children？〃 enquired the Russian。
〃I will that。〃
He stretched out his hand impulsively。 She placed hers in it。 He raised it to his lips； bending low as if it had been the lily white hand of the fairest lady in the land； instead of the fat； rough； red hand of an old Irish washer…woman。
〃Sure； it's mighty bad taste ye have；〃 said Tim with a sly laugh。 〃It's not her hand I'd be kissin'。〃
〃Bad luck to ye！ Have ye no manners？〃 said Nora； jerking away her hand in confusion。
〃I thank you with all my heart；〃 said Kalmar； gravely bowing with his hand upon his heart。 〃And will you now and then look over overlookoverseeah yes； oversee this little girl？〃
〃Listen to me now；〃 cried Mrs。 Fitzpatrick。 〃Can she clear out thim men from her room？〃 nodding her head toward Paulina。
〃There will be no men in her house。〃
〃Can she kape thim out？ She's only a wake craythur anyway。〃
〃Paulina；〃 said her husband。
She came forward and； taking his hand； kissed it； Mrs。 Fitzpatrick looking on in disgust。
〃This woman asks can you keep the men out of your room；〃 he said in Galician。
〃I will keep them out；〃 she said simply。
〃Aye； but can she？〃 said Mrs。 Fitzpatrick； to whom her answer had been translated。
〃I can kill them in the night；〃 said Paulina； in a voice of quiet but concentrated passion。
〃The saints in Hivin be above us！ I belave her；〃 said Mrs。 Fitzpatrick； with a new respect for Paulina。 〃But fer the love o' Hivin； tell her there is no killin' in this counthry； an' more's the pity when ye see some men that's left to run about。〃
〃She will keep the children safe with her life；〃 said Kalmar。 〃She had no money before； and she was told I was dead。 But it matters not。 She is nothing to me。 But she will keep my children with her life。〃
His trust in her； his contempt for her； awakened in Mrs。 Fitzpatrick a kind of hostility toward him； and of pity for the wretched woman whom； while he trusted； he so despised。
〃Come an' take an air o' the fire； Paulina；〃 she said not unkindly。 〃It's cold forninst the door。〃
Pauhina； while she understood not the words； caught the meaning of the gesture； but especially of the tone。 She drew near； caught the Irish woman's hand in hers and kissed it。
〃Hut！〃 said Mrs。 Fitzpatrick； drawing away her hand。 〃Sit down； will ye？〃
The Russian rose to his feet。
〃I must now depart。 I have still a little work to accomplish。 To…morrow I leave the city。 Permit me now to bid my children farewell。〃
He turned to the girl； who held Paulina's baby asleep in her arms。 〃Irma；〃 he said in Russian； 〃I am going to leave you。〃
The girl rose； placed the sleeping baby on the bed； and coming to her father's side； stood looking up into his face； her wonderful brown eyes shining with tears she was too brave to shed。
He drew her to him。
〃I am going to leave you；〃 he repeated in Russian。 〃In one year； if all is well； at most in two； I shall return。 You know I cannot stay with you； and you know why。〃 He took the miniature from his pocket and opening it； held it before her face。 〃Your mother gave her life for her country。〃 For some moments he gazed upon the beautiful face in the miniature。 〃She was a lady； and feared not death。 Ah！ ah！ such a death！〃 He struggled fiercely with his emotions。 〃She was willing to die。 Should not I？ You do not grudge that I should leave you； that I should die； if need be？〃 An anxious； almost wistful tone crept into his voice。
Bravely the little girl looked up into the dark face。
〃I remember my mother；〃 she said； 〃I would be like her。〃
〃Aha！〃 cried her father； catching her to his breast； 〃I judged you rightly。 You are her daughter； and you will live worthy of her。 Kalman； come hither。 Irma； you will care for your brother。 He is young。 He is a boy。 He will need care。 Kalman； heart of my life！〃
〃He does not understand Russian；〃 said Paulina。 〃Speak in Galician。〃
〃Ha；〃 cried the man； turning sharply upon her as if he had forgotten her existence。 〃Kalman； my son；〃 he proceeded in Russian； 〃did you not understand what I said to your sister？〃
〃Not well； father；〃 said the boy； 〃a little。〃
〃Alas； that you should have forgotten your mother's speech！〃
〃I shall learn it again from Irma；〃 said the boy。
〃Good；〃 replied the father in Galician。 〃Listen then。 Never forget you are a Russian。 This；〃 putting the miniature before him； 〃was your mother。 She was a lady。 For her country she gave up rank； wealth； home and at last life。 For her country； too； I go back again。 When my work is done I shall return。〃
Through the window came sounds of revelry from the house near by。
〃You are not of these cattle；〃 he said； pointing through the window。 〃Your mother was a lady。 Be worthy of her； boy。 Now farewell。〃
The boy stood without word； without motion； without tear； his light blue eyes fixed upon his father's face； his fair skin white but for a faint spot of red on his cheek。
〃Obey your sister； Kalman； and defend her。 And listen； boy。〃 His voice deepened into a harsh snarl； his fingers sank into the boy's shoulder； but the boy winced not。 〃If any man does her wrong； you will kill him。 Say it； boy？ What will you do？〃
〃Kill him；〃 said the boy with fierce promptitude； speaking in the English tongue。
〃Ha！ yes；〃 replied his father in English； 〃you bear your mother's face； her golden hair； her eyes of bluethey are not so beautiful but you have your father's spirit。 You would soon learn to kill in Russia； but in this land you will not kill unless to defend your sister from wrong。〃
His mood swiftly changed。 He paused； looking sadly at his children； then turning to Mrs。 Fitzpatrick he said； 〃They should go to the public school like Simon Ketzel's little girl。 They speak not such good English as she。 She is very clever。〃
〃Sure； they must go to school；〃 said she。 〃An' go they will。〃
〃My gratitude will be with you forever。 Good…by。〃
He shook hands with Timothy； then with Mrs。 Fitzpatrick； kissing her hand as well。 He motioned his children toward him。
〃Heart of my heart；〃 he murmured in a broken voice； straining his daughter to his breast。 〃God； if God there be； and all the saints； if saints there be； have you in their keeping。 Kalman； my son；〃 throwing one arm about him； 〃Farewell！ farewell！〃 He was fast losing control of himself。 The stormy Slavic passions were threatening to burst all restraint。 〃I give you to each other。 But you will remember that it was not for my sake； but for Russia's sake； I leave you。 My heart； my heart belongs to you； but my heart's heart is not for me； nor for you； but for Russia； for your mother's land and ours。〃
By this time tears were streaming down his cheek。 Sobs shook his powerful frame。 Irma was clinging to him in an abandonment of weeping。 Kalman stood holding tight to his father； rigi
