"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。’"