"Myrashnessrunstheriskofthat，"Irejoined。

"Tellmesomething，beforeIallowyoutorunyourrisk，"hesaid。"Areyouoneofthosepeoplewhothinkthatthetempersofchildrenareformedbytheaccidentalinfluenceswhichhappentobeaboutthem？Ordoyouagreewithmethatthetempersofchildrenareinheritedfromtheirparents？"

TheDoctor（asIconcluded）wasstillstronglyimpressedbytheMinister’sresolutiontoadoptachildwhosewickedmotherhadcommittedthemostatrociousofallcrimes。Wassomeseriousforebodinginsecretpossessionofhismind？Mycuriositytohearhimwasnowincreasedtenfold。Irepliedwithouthesitation：

"Iagreewithyou。"

Helookedatmewithhissenseofhumortwinklinginhiseyes。

"DoyouknowIratherexpectedthatanswer？"hesaid，slyly。"Allright。I’llcomeback。"

Leftbymyself，Itookuptheday’snewspaper。

Myattentionwandered；mythoughtswereinthecellwiththeMinisterandthePrisoner。Howwoulditend？Sometimes，IwasinclinedtodoubtwiththeDoctor。Sometimes，Itookrefugeinmyownmorehopefulview。Theseidlereflectionswereagreeablyinterruptedbytheappearanceofmyfriend，theChaplain。

"Youarealwayswelcome，"Isaid；"anddoublywelcomejustnow。I

amfeelingalittleworriedandanxious。"

"Andyouarenaturally，"theChaplainadded，notatalldisposedtoreceiveastranger？"

"Isthestrangerafriendofyours？"Iasked。

"Oh，no！Havingoccasion，justnow，togointothewaiting—room，Ifoundayoungwomanthere，whoaskedmeifshecouldseeyou。

Shethinksyouhaveforgottenher，andsheistiredofwaiting。I

merelyundertook，ofcourse，tomentionwhatshehadsaidtome。"

Thenursehavingbeeninthiswayrecalledtomymemory，Ifeltsomelittleinterestinseeingher，afterwhathadpassedinthecell。Inplainerwords，IwasdesirousofjudgingformyselfwhethershedeservedthehostilefeelingwhichthePrisonerhadshowntowardher。IthankedtheChaplainbeforeheleftme，andgavetheservantthenecessaryinstructions。Whensheenteredtheroom，Ilookedatthewomanattentivelyforthefirsttime。

Youthandafinecomplexion，awell—madefigureandanaturalgraceofmovement——thesewereherpersonalattractions，sofarasIcouldsee。Herdefectswere，tomymind，equallynoticeable。

Underaheavyforehead，herpiercingeyeslookedoutatpersonsandthingswithanexpressionwhichwasnottomytaste。Herlargemouth——anotherdefect，inmyopinion——wouldhavebeenrecommendedtomercy，intheestimationofmanymen，byhermagnificentteeth；white，well—shaped，cruellyregular。Believersinphysiognomymightperhapshaveseenthebetrayalofanobstinatenatureinthelengthyfirmnessofherchin。WhileIamtryingtodescribeher，letmenotforgetherdress。Awoman’sdressisthemirrorinwhichwemayseethereflectionofawoman’snature。Bearinginmindthemelancholyandimpressivecircumstancesunderwhichshehadbroughtthechildtotheprison，thegayetyofcolorinhergownandherbonnetimpliedeitheratotalwantoffeeling，oratotalwantoftact。Astoherpositioninlife，letmeconfessthatIfelt，afteracloserexamination，atalosstodetermineit。Shewascertainlynotalady。ThePrisonerhadspokenofherasifshewasadomesticservantwhohadforfeitedherrighttoconsiderationandrespect。

Andshehadenteredtheprison，asanursemighthaveenteredit，inchargeofachild。Ididwhatwealldowhenwearenotcleverenoughtofindtheanswertoariddle——Igaveitup。

"WhatcanIdoforyou？"Iasked。

"Perhapsyoucantellme，"sheanswered，"howmuchlongerIamtobekeptwaitinginthisprison。"

"Thedecision，"Iremindedher，"doesn’tdependonme。"

"Thenwhodoesitdependon？"

TheMinisterhadundoubtedlyacquiredthesolerightofdeciding。

Itwasforhimtosaywhetherthiswomanshould，orshouldnot，remaininattendanceonthechildwhomhehadadopted。Inthemeanwhile，thefeelingofdistrustwhichwasgainingonmymindwarnedmetorememberthevalueofreserveinholdingintercoursewithastranger。

Sheseemedtobeirritatedbymysilence。"Ifthedecisiondoesn’trestwithyou，"sheasked，"whydidyoutellmetostayinthewaiting—room？"

"Youbroughtthelittlegirlintotheprison，"Isaid；"wasitnotnaturaltosupposethatyourmistressmightwantyou——"

"Stop，sir！"

Ihadevidentlygivenoffense；Istoppeddirectly。

"Nopersononthefaceoftheearth，"shedeclared，loftily，"haseverhadtherighttocallherselfmymistress。Ofmyownfreewill，sir，Itookchargeofthechild。"

"Becauseyouarefondofher？"Isuggested。

"Ihateher。"

Itwasunwiseonmypart——Iprotested。"Hateababylittlemorethanayearold！"Isaid。

"_Her_baby！"

Shesaiditwiththeairofawomanwhohadproducedanunanswerablereason。"Iamaccountabletonobody，"shewenton。

"IfIconsentedtotroublemyselfwiththechild，itwasinremembranceofmyfriendship——notice，ifyouplease，thatIsayfriendship——withtheunhappyfather。"

PuttingtogetherwhatIhadjustheard，andwhatIhadseeninthecell，Idrewtherightconclusionatlast。Thewoman，whosepositioninlifehadbeenthusfaranimpenetrablemysterytome，nowstoodrevealedasone，amongotherobjectsofthePrisoner’sjealousy，duringherdisastrousmarriedlife。Aseriousdoubtoccurredtomeastotheauthorityunderwhichthehusband’smistressmightbeacting，afterthehusband’sdeath。Iinstantlyputittothetest。

"DoIunderstandyoutoassertanyclaimtothechild？"Iasked。

"Claim？"sherepeated。"Iknownomoreofthechildthanyoudo。

Iheardforthefirsttimethatsuchacreaturewasinexistence，whenhermurderedfathersentformeinhisdyingmoments。AthisentreatyIpromisedtotakecareofher，whilehervilemotherwasoutofthehouseandinthehandsofthelaw。Mypromisehasbeenperformed。IfIamexpected（havingbroughthertotheprison）totakeherawayagain，understandthis：Iamundernoobligation（evenifIcouldaffordit）toburdenmyselfwiththatchild；Ishallhandherovertotheworkhouseauthorities。"

Iforgotmyselfoncemore——Ilostmytemper。

"Leavetheroom，"Isaid。"Yourunworthyhandswillnottouchthepoorbabyagain。Sheisprovidedfor。"

"Idon’tbelieveyou！"thewretchburstout。"Whohastakenthechild？"

Aquietvoiceanswered："_I_havetakenher。"

WebothlookedroundandsawtheMinisterstandingintheopendoorway，withthechildinhisarms。Theordealthathehadgonethroughinthecondemnedcellwasvisibleinhisface；helookedmiserablyhaggardandbroken。IwaseagertoknowifhismercifulinterestinthePrisonerhadpurifiedherguiltysoul——butatthesametimeIwasafraid，afterwhathehadbuttooplainlysuffered，toaskhimtoenterintodetails。

"Onlyoneword，"Isaid。"Areyouranxietiesatrest？"

"God’smercyhashelpedme，"heanswered。"Ihavenotspokeninvain。Shebelieves；sherepents；shehasconfessedthecrime。"

Afterhandingthewrittenandsignedconfessiontome，heapproachedthevenomouscreature，stilllingeringintheroomtohearwhatpassedbetweenus。BeforeIcouldstophim，hespoketoher，underanaturalimpressionthathewasaddressingthePrisoner’sservant。

"Iamafraidyouwillbedisappointed，"hesaid，"whenItellyouthatyourserviceswillnolongerberequired。Ihavereasonsforplacingthechildunderthecareofanurseofmyownchoosing。"

Shelistenedwithanevilsmile。

"Iknowwhofurnishedyouwithyourreasons，"sheanswered。

"Apologiesarequiteneedless，sofarasIamconcerned。Ifyouhadproposedtometolookafterthenewmemberofyourfamilythere，Ishouldhavefeltitmydutytomyselftohaverefused。I

amnotanurse——Iamanindependentsinglelady。Iseebyyourdressthatyouareaclergyman。Allowmetopresentmyselfasamarkofrespecttoyourcloth。IamMissElizabethChance。MayI

askthefavorofyourname？"

Toowearyandtoopreoccupiedtonoticetheinsolenceofhermanner，theMinistermentionedhisname。"Iamanxious，"hesaid，"toknowifthechildhasbeenbaptized。Perhapsyoucanenlightenme？"

Stillinsolent，MissElizabethChanceshookherheadcarelessly。

"Ineverheard——and，totellyouthetruth，Inevercaredtohear——whethershewaschristenedornot。Callherbywhatnameyoulike，Icantellyouthis——youwillfindyouradopteddaughteraheavyhandful。"

TheMinisterturnedtome。"Whatdoesshemean？"

"Iwilltrytotellyou，"MissChanceinterposed。"Beingaclergyman，youknowwhoDeborahwas？Verywell。IamDeborahnow；

and_I_prophesy。"Shepointedtothechild。"RememberwhatI

say，reverendsir！Youwillfindthetigress—cubtakeafteritsmother。"

Withthosepartingwords，shefavoreduswithalowcurtsey，andlefttheroom。

CHAPTERVI。

THEDOCTORDOUBTS。

THEMinisterlookedatmeinanabsentmanner；hisattentionseemedtohavebeenwandering。"WhatwasitMissChancesaid？"heasked。

BeforeIcouldspeak，afriend’svoiceatthedoorinterruptedus。TheDoctor，returningtomeashehadpromised，answeredtheMinister’squestioninthesewords：

"Imusthavepassedthepersonyoumean，sir，asIwascominginhere；andIheardhersay：’Youwillfindthetigress—cubtakeafteritsmother。’IfshehadknownhowtoputhermeaningintogoodEnglish，MissChance——thatisthenameyoumentioned，I

think——mighthavetoldyouthatthevicesoftheparentsareinheritedbythechildren。Andtheoneparticularparentshehadinhermind，"theDoctorcontinued，gentlypattingthechild’scheek，"wasnodoubtthemotherofthisunfortunatelittlecreature——whomay，ormaynot，livetoshowyouthatshecomesofabadstockandinheritsawickednature。"

Iwasonthepointofprotestingagainstmyfriend’sinterpretation，whentheMinisterstoppedme。

"Letmethankyou，sir，foryourexplanation，"hesaidtotheDoctor。"Assoonasmymindisfree，Iwillreflectonwhatyouhavesaid。Forgiveme，Mr。Governor，"hewenton，"ifIleaveyou，nowthatIhaveplacedthePrisoner’sconfessioninyourhands。IthasbeenanefforttometosaythelittleIhavesaid，sinceIfirstenteredthisroom。Icanthinkofnothingbutthatunhappycriminal，andthedeaththatshemustdieto—morrow。"

"Doesshewishyoutobepresent？"Iasked。

"Shepositivelyforbidsit。’Afterwhatyouhavedoneforme，’

shesaid，’theleastIcandoinreturnistopreventyourbeingneedlesslydistressed。’Shetookleaveofme；shekissedthelittlegirlforthelasttime——oh，don’taskmetotellyouaboutit！IshallbreakdownifItry。Come，mydarling！"Hekissedthechildtenderly，andtookherawaywithhim。

"Thatmanisastrangecompoundofstrengthandweakness，"theDoctorremarked。"Didyounoticehisface，justnow？Ninemenoutoften，sufferingashesuffered，wouldhavefailedtocontrolthemselves。Suchresolutionashis_may_conquerthedifficultiesthatareinstoreforhimyet。"

Itwasatrialofmytempertohearmyclevercolleaguejustifying，inthisway，theignorantpredictionofaninsolentwoman。

"Thereareexceptionstoallrules，"Iinsisted。"Andwhyarethevirtuesoftheparentsnotjustaslikelytodescendtothechildrenasthevices？Therewasafundofgood，Icantellyou，inthatpoorbaby’sfather——thoughIdon’tdenythathewasaprofligateman。Andeventhehorriblemother——asyouheardjustnow——hasvirtueenoughleftinhertofeelgratefultothemanwhohastakencareofherchild。Thesearefacts；youcan’tdisputethem。"

TheDoctortookouthispipe。"Doyoumindmysmoking？"heasked。

"Tobaccohelpsmetoarrangemyideas。"

Igavehimthemeansofarranginghisideas；thatistosay，I

gavehimthematch—box。Heblewsomepreliminarycloudsofsmokeandthenheansweredme：

"Fortwentyyearspast，myfriend，Ihavebeenstudyingthequestionofhereditarytransmissionofqualities；andIhavefoundvicesanddiseasesdescendingmorefrequentlytochildrenthanvirtueandhealth。Idon’tstoptoaskwhy：thereisnoendtothatsortofcuriosity。WhatIhaveobservediswhatItellyou；nomoreandnoless。Youwillsaythisisahorriblydiscouragingresultofexperience，forittendstoshowthatchildrencomeintotheworldatadisadvantageonthedayoftheirbirth。Ofcoursetheydo。Childrenareborndeformed；

childrenareborndeaf，dumb，orblind；childrenarebornwiththeseedsinthemofdeadlydiseases。Whocanaccountforthecrueltiesofcreation？Whyareweendowedwithlife——onlytoendindeath？Anddoesiteverstrikeyou，whenyouarecuttingyourmuttonatdinner，andyourcatiscatchingitsmouse，andyourspiderissuffocatingitsfly，thatweareall，bigandlittletogether，borntoonecertaininheritance——theprivilegeofeatingeachother？"

"Verysad，"Iadmitted。"Butitwillallbesetrightinanotherworld。"

"Areyouquitesureofthat？"theDoctorasked。

"Quitesure，thankGod！AnditwouldbebetterforyouifyoufeltaboutitasIdo。"

"Wewon’tdispute，mydearGovernor。Idon’tscoffatcomfortinghopes；Idon’tdenytheexistenceofoccasionalcompensations。

ButIdosee，nevertheless，thatEvilhasgottheupperhandamongus，onthiscuriouslittleplanet。Judgingbymyobservationandexperience，thatill—fatedbaby’schanceofinheritingthevirtuesofherparentsisnottobecomparedwithherchancesofinheritingtheirvices；especiallyifshehappenstotakeafterhermother。_There_thevirtueisnotconspicuous，andtheviceisoneenormousfact。WhenIthinkofthegrowthofthatpoisonoushereditarytaint，whichmaycomewithtime——whenI

thinkofpassionsletlooseandtemptationslyinginambush——I

seethesmoothsurfaceoftheMinister’sdomesticlifewithdangerslurkingunderitwhichmakemeshakeinmyshoes。God！

whatalifeIshouldlead，ifIhappenedtobeinhisplace，someyearshence。SupposeIsaidordidsomething（inthejustexerciseofmyparentalauthority）whichoffendedmyadopteddaughter。Whatfigurewouldrisefromthedeadinmymemory，whenthegirlbouncedoutoftheroominarage？TheimageofhermotherwouldbetheimageIshouldsee。Ishouldrememberwhathermotherdidwhen_she_wasprovoked；Ishouldlockmybedroomdoor，inmyownhouse，atnight。Ishouldcomedowntobreakfastwithsuspicionsinmycupoftea，ifIdiscoveredthatmyadopteddaughterhadpoureditout。Oh，yes；it’squitetruethatImightbedoingthegirlacruelinjusticeallthetime；buthowamItobesureofthat？Iamonlysurethathermotherwashangedforoneofthemostmercilessmurderscommittedinourtime。Passthematch—box。Mypipe’sout，andmyconfessionoffaithhascometoanend。"

Itwasuselesstodisputewithamanwhopossessedhiscommandoflanguage。Atthesametime，therewasabrightsidetothepoorMinister’sprospectswhichtheDoctorhadfailedtosee。ItwasbarelypossiblethatImightsucceedinputtingmypositivefriendinthewrong。Itriedtheexperiment，atanyrate。

"Youseemtohaveforgotten，"Iremindedhim，"thatthechildwillhaveeveryadvantagethateducationcanoffertoher，andwillbeaccustomedfromherearliestyearstorestrainingandpurifyinginfluences，inaclergyman’shousehold。"

Nowthathewasenjoyingthefumesoftobacco，theDoctorwasasplacidandsweet—temperedasamancouldbe。

"Quitetrue，"hesaid。

"Doyoudoubttheinfluenceofreligion？"Iaskedsternly。

Heanswered，sweetly："Notatall"

"Ortheinfluenceofkindness？"

"Oh，dear，no！"

"Ortheforceofexample？"

"Iwouldn’tdenyitfortheworld。"

Ihadnotexpectedthisextraordinarydocility。TheDoctorhadgottheupperhandofmeagain——astateofthingsthatImighthavefoundithardtoendure，butforacallofdutywhichputanendtooursitting。Oneofthefemalewardersappearedwithamessagefromthecondemnedcell。ThePrisonerwishedtoseetheGovernorandtheMedicalOfficer。

"Issheill？"theDoctorinquired。

"No，sir。"

"Hysterical？oragitated，perhaps？"

"Aseasyandcomposed，sir，asapersoncanbe。"

Wesetforthtogetherforthecondemnedcell。

CHAPTERVII。

THEMURDERESSCONSULTSTHEAUTHORITIES。

THEREwasaconsideratesidetomyfriend’scharacter，whichshoweditselfwhenthewarderhadleftus。

HewasespeciallyanxioustobecarefulofwhathesaidtoawomaninthePrisoner’sterriblesituation；especiallyintheeventofherhavingbeenreallysubjectedtotheinfluenceofreligiousbelief。OntheMinister’sownauthority，Ideclaredthattherewaseveryreasontoadoptthisconclusion；andinsupportofwhatIhadsaidIshowedhimtheconfession。Itonlycontainedafewlines，acknowledgingthatshehadcommittedthemurderandthatshedeservedhersentence。"Fromtheplanningofthecrimetothecommissionofthecrime，Iwasinmyrightsensesthroughout。IknewwhatIwasdoing。"Withthatremarkabledisavowalofthedefensesetupbyheradvocate，theconfessionended。

Mycolleaguereadthepaper，andhandeditbacktomewithoutmakinganyremark。IaskedifhesuspectedthePrisoneroffeigningconversiontopleasetheMinister。

"Sheshallnotdiscoverit，"heanswered，gravely，"ifIdo。"

ItwouldnotbetruetosaythattheDoctor’sobstinacyhadshakenmybeliefinthegoodresultoftheMinister’sinterference。Imay，however，acknowledgethatIfeltsomemisgivings，whichwerenotdispelledwhenIfoundmyselfinthepresenceofthePrisoner。

IhadexpectedtoseeheremployedinreadingtheBible。Thegoodbookwasclosedandwasnotevenplacedwithinherreach。Theoccupationtowhichshewasdevotingherselfastonishedandrepelledme。

Somecarelessnessonthepartoftheattendanthadleftonthetablethewritingmaterialsthathadbeenneededforherconfession。Shewasusingthemnow——whendeathonthescaffoldwasliterallywithinafewhoursofher——tosketchaportraitofthefemalewarder，whowasonthewatch！TheDoctorandIlookedateachother；andnowthesincerityofherrepentancewassomethingthatIbegantoquestion，too。

Shelaiddownthepen，andproceededquietlytoexplainherself。

"Eventhelittletimethatislefttomeprovestobeawearytimetogetthrough，"shesaid。"Iammakingalastuseofthetalentfordrawingandcatchingalikeness，whichhasbeenoneofmygiftssinceIwasagirl。Youlookasifyoudidn’tapproveofsuchemploymentasthisforawomanwhoisgoingtobehanged。

Well，sir，Ihavenodoubtyouareright。"Shepaused，andtoreuptheportrait。"IfIhavemisbehavedmyself，"sheresumed，"I

makeamends。Tofindyouinanindulgentframeofmindisofimportancetomejustnow。Ihaveafavortoaskofyou。Maythewarderleavethecellforafewminutes？"

Givingthewomanpermissiontowithdrawforawhile，IwaitedwithsomeanxietytohearwhatthePrisonerwantedofme。

"Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou，"sheproceeded，"onthesubjectofexecutions。Thefaceofapersonwhoisgoingtobehangedishidden，asIhavebeentold，byawhitecapdrawnoverit。Isthattrue？"

Howanothermanmighthavefelt，inmyplace，Icannot，ofcourse，say。Tomymind，suchaquestion——on_her_lips——wastooshockingtobeansweredinwords。Ibowed。

"Andthebodyisburied，"shewenton，"intheprison？"

Icouldremainsilentnolonger。"Istherenohumanfeelingleftinyou？"Iburstout。"Whatdothesehorridquestionsmean？"

"Don’tbeangrywithme，sir；youshallheardirectly。IwanttoknowfirstifIamtobeburiedintheprison？"

Irepliedasbefore，byabow。

"Now，"shesaid，"ImaytellyouwhatImean。IntheautumnoflastyearIwastakentoseesomewaxworks。Portraitsofcriminalswereamongthem。Therewasoneportrait——"Shehesitated；herinfernalself—possessionfailedheratlast。Thecolorleftherface；shewasnolongerabletolookatmefirmly。

"Therewasoneportrait，"sheresumed，"thathadbeentakenaftertheexecution。Thefacewassohideous；itwasswollentosuchasizeinitsfrightfuldeformity——oh，sir，don’tletmebeseeninthatstate，evenbythestrangerswhoburyme！Useyourinfluence——forbidthemtotakethecapoffmyfacewhenIamdead——orderthemtoburymeinit，andIsweartoyouI’llmeetdeathtomorrowascoollyastheboldestmanthatevermountedthescaffold！"BeforeIcouldstopher，sheseizedmebythehand，andwrungitwithafuriouspowerthatleftthemarkofhergrasponme，inabruise，fordaysafterward。"Willyoudoit？"shecried。"You’reanhonorableman；youwillkeepyourword。Givemeyourpromise！"

Igavehermypromise。

Therelieftohertorturedspiritexpresseditselfhorriblyinaburstoffranticlaughter。"Ican’thelpit，"shegasped；"I’msohappy。"

Myenemiessaidofme，whenIgotmyappointment，thatIwastooexcitableamantobegovernorofaprison。Perhapstheywerenotaltogetherwrong。Anyhow，thequick—wittedDoctorsawsomechangeinme，whichIwasnotawareofmyself。Hetookmyarmandledmeoutofthecell。"Leavehertome，"hewhispered。"Thefineedgeofmynerveswaswornofflongagointhehospital。"

Whenwemetagain，IaskedwhathadpassedbetweenthePrisonerandhimself。

"Igavehertimetorecover，"hetoldme；"and，exceptthatshelookedalittlepalerthanusual，therewasnotraceleftofthefrenzythatyouremember。’Ioughttoapologizefortroublingyou，’shesaid；’butitisperhapsnaturalthatIshouldthink，nowandthen，ofwhatistohappentometo—morrowmorning。Asamedicalman，youwillbeabletoenlightenme。Isdeathbyhangingapainfuldeath？’ShehadputitsopolitelythatIfeltboundtoanswerher。’Iftheneckhappenstobebroken，’Isaid，’hangingisasuddendeath；frightandpain（ifthereisanypain）arebothoverinaninstant。Astotheotherformofdeathwhichisalsopossible（Imeandeathbysuffocation），ImustownasanhonestmanthatIknownomoreaboutitthanyoudo。’Afterconsideringalittle，shemadeasensibleremark，andfolloweditbyanembarrassingrequest。’Agreatdeal，’shesaid，’mustdependontheexecutioner。Iamnotafraidofdeath，Doctor。WhyshouldIbe？Myanxietyaboutmylittlegirlissetatrest；I

havenothinglefttolivefor。ButIdon’tlikepain。Wouldyoumindtellingtheexecutionertobecareful？OrwoulditbebetterifIspoketohimmyself？’IsaidIthoughtitwouldcomewithabettergracefromherself。Sheunderstoodmedirectly；andwedroppedthesubject。Areyousurprisedathercoolness，afteryourexperienceofher？"

IconfessedthatIwassurprised。

"Thinkalittle，"theDoctorsaid。"Theonesensitiveplaceinthatwoman’snatureistheplaceoccupiedbyherself—esteem。"

Iobjectedtothisthatshehadshownfondnessforherchild。

Myfrienddisposedoftheobjectionwithhiscustomaryreadiness。

"Thematernalinstinct，"hesaid。"Acatisfondofherkittens；

acowisfondofhercalf。No，sir，theonecauseofthatoutbreakofpassionwhichsoshockedyou——agenuineoutbreak，beyondalldoubt——istobefoundinthevanityofafinefemininecreature，overpoweredbyahorroroflookinghideous，evenafterherdeath。DoyouknowIratherlikethatwoman？"

"Isitpossiblethatyouareinearnest？"Iasked。

"Iknowaswellasyoudo，"heanswered，thatthisisneitheratimenoraplaceforjesting。Thefactis，thePrisonercarriesoutanideaofmine。Itismypositiveconvictionthattheworstmurders——Imeanmurdersdeliberatelyplanned——arecommittedbypersonsabsolutelydeficientinthatpartofthemoralorganizationwhich_feels。_Thenightbeforetheyarehangedtheysleep。Ontheirlastmorningtheyeatabreakfast。Incapableofrealizingthehorrorofmurder，theyareincapableofrealizingthehorrorofdeath。Doyourememberthelastmurdererwhowashangedhere——agentleman’scoachmanwhokilledhiswife？Hehadbuttwoanxietieswhilehewaswaitingforexecution。Onewastogethisallowanceofbeerdoubled，andtheotherwastobehangedinhiscoachman’slivery。No！no！thesewretchesareallalike；

theyarehumancreaturesbornwiththetemperamentsoftigers。

Takemywordforit，weneedfeelnoanxietyaboutto—morrow。ThePrisonerwillfacethecrowdroundthescaffoldwithcomposure；

andthepeoplewillsay，’Shediedgame。’"

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读