\"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。’\"