the foreigner-第19节

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〃Perhaps　we　better　wait；　Doctor；〃　interposed　Mrs。　French。　　〃I'll　talk　to　her　and　we'll　try　another　day。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　doctor；　catching　up　a　shawl　and　wrapping　around　the　little　girl；　〃she's　going　with　me　now。　　There　will　be　a　scrap；　and　you　will　have　to　get　in。　　I'll　back　you　up。〃

As　the　doctor　caught　up　the　little　child；　the　mother　shouted；　〃No；　no！　　Not　go！〃

〃I　say　yes；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃I'll　get　a　policeman　and　put　you　all　in　prison。　　Tell　her。〃

The　threat　made　no　impression　upon　the　mother。　　On　the　contrary；　as　the　doctor　moved　toward　the　door　she　seized　a　large　carving…knife　and　threw　herself　before　him。　　For　a　moment　or　two　they　stood　facing　each　other；　the　doctor　uncertain　what　his　next　move　should　be；　but　determined　that　his　plan　should　not　fail　this　time。　　It　was　Mrs。　French　who　interposed。　　With　a　smile　she　laid　her　hand　upon　the　mother's　arm。

〃Tell　her；〃　she　said　to　the　little　girl；　〃that　I　will　go　with　the　children；　and　I　promise　that　no　hurt　shall　come　to　them。　　And　I　will　bring　them　back　again　safe。　　Your　mother　can　come　and　see　them　to…morrowto…day。　　The　hospital　is　a　lovely　place。　　They　will　have　nice　toys；　dolls；　and　nice　things　to　eat；　and　we'll　make　them　better。〃

Rapidly；　almost　breathlessly；　and　with　an　eager　smile　on　her　sweet　face；　Mrs。　French　went　on　to　describe　the　advantages　and　attractions　of　the　hospital；　pausing　only　to　allow　the　little　girl　to　translate。

At　length　the　mother　relented；　her　face　softened。　　She　stepped　from　the　door；　laying　down　her　knife　upon　the　table；　moved　not　by　the　glowing　picture　of　Mrs。　French's　words；　but　by　the　touch　upon　her　arm　and　the　face　that　smiled　into　hers。　　Once　more　the　mother　spoke。

〃Will　you　go　too？〃　interpreted　the　little　girl。

〃Yes；　surely。　　I　go　too；〃　she　replied。

This　brought　the　mother's　final　surrender。　　She　seized　Mrs。　French's　hand；　and　bursting　into　loud　weeping；　kissed　it　again　and　again。　　Mrs。　French　put　her　arms　around　the　weeping　woman；　and　unshrinking；　kissed　the　tear…stained；　dirty　face。　　Dr。　Wright　looked　on　in　admiring　silence。

〃You　are　a　dead　sport；〃　he　said。　　〃I　can't　play　up　to　that；　but　you　excite　my　ambition。　　Get　a　shawl　around　the　other　kiddie　and　come　along；　or　I'll　find　myself　kissing　the　bunch。〃

Once　more　he　started　toward　the　door；　but　the　mother　was　before　him；　talking　and　gesticulating。

〃What's　the　row　now？〃　said　the　doctor；　turning　to　the　little　interpreter。

〃She　says　she　must　dress　them；　make　them　clean。〃

〃It's　a　big　order；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃but　I　submit。〃

With　great　energy　Mrs。　Blazowski　proceeded　to　prepare　her　children　for　their　momentous　venture　into　the　world。　　The　washing　process　was　simple　enough。　　From　the　dish…pan　which　stood　upon　the　hearth　half　full　of　dirty　water　and　some　of　the　breakfast　dishes；　she　took　a　greasy　dish…cloth；　wrung　it　out　carefully；　and　with　it　proceeded　to　wash；　not　untenderly；　the　festering　heads；　faces　and　fingers　of　her　children；　resorting　from　time　to　time　to　the　dishpan　for　a　fresh　supply　of　water。　　This　done；　she　carefully　dried　the　parts　thus　diligently　washed　with　the　handkerchief　which　she　usually　wore　about　her　head。　　Then　pinning　shawls　about　their　heads；　she　had　her　children　ready　for　their　departure；　and　gave　them　into　Mrs。　French's　charge；　sobbing　aloud　as　if　she　might　never　see　them　more。

〃Well；〃　said　the　doctor；　as　he　drove　rapidly　away；　〃we're　well　out　of　that。　　I　was　just　figuring　what　sort　of　hold　would　be　most　fatal　to　the　old　lady　when　you　interposed。〃

〃Poor　thing！〃　said　Mrs。　French。　　〃They're　very　fond　of　their　children；　these　Galicians；　and　they're　so　suspicious　of　us。　　They　don't　know　any　better。〃

As　they　passed　Paulina's　house；　the　little　girl　Irma　ran　out　from　the　door。

〃My　mother　want　you　very　bad；〃　she　said　to　Mrs。　French。

〃Tell　her　I'll　come　in　this　afternoon；〃　said　Mrs。　French。

〃She　want　you　now；〃　replied　Irma；　with　such　a　look　of　anxiety　upon　her　face　that　Mrs。　French　was　constrained　to　say；　〃Wait　one　moment；　Doctor。　　I'll　see　what　it　is。　　I　shall　not　keep　you。〃

She　ran　into　the　house；　followed　by　the　little　girl。　　The　room　was　full　of　men　who　stood　about　in　stolid　but　not　unsympathetic　silence；　gazing　upon　Paulina；　who　appeared　to　be　prostrated　with　grief。　　Beside　her　stood　the　lad　Kalman；　the　picture　of　desolation。

〃What　is　it？〃　cried　Mrs。　French；　running　to　her。　　〃Tell　me　what　is　the　matter。〃

Irma　told　the　story。　　Early　that　morning　they　had　gone　to　the　jail；　but　after　waiting　for　hours　they　were　refused　admission　by　the　guard。

〃A　very　cross　man　send　us　away；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃He　say　he　put　us　in　jail　too。　　We　can　see　our　fadder　no　more。〃

Her　words　were　followed　by　a　new　outburst　of　grief　on　the　part　of　Paulina　and　the　two　children。

〃But　the　Judge　said　you　were　to　see　him；〃　said　Mrs。　French　in　surprise。　　〃Wait　for　me；〃　she　added。

She　ran　out　and　told　the　doctor　in　indignant　words　what　had　taken　place；　a　red　spot　glowing　in　each　white　cheek。

〃Isn't　it　a　shame？〃　she　cried　when　she　had　finished　her　story。

〃Oh；　it's　something　about　prison　rules　and　regulations；　I　guess；〃　said　the　doctor。

〃Prison　rules！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　French　with　wrath　rare　in　her。　〃I'll　go　straight　to　the　Judge　myself。〃

〃Get　in；〃　said　the　doctor；　taking　up　the　lines。

〃Where　are　you　going？　　We　can't　leave　these　poor　things　in　this　way；〃　the　tears　gathering　in　her　eyes　and　her　voice　beginning　to　break。

〃Not　much；〃　said　the　doctor　briskly；　〃we　are　evidently　in　for　another　scrap。　　I　don't　know　where　you　will　land　me　finally；　but　I'm　game　to　follow　your　lead。　　We'll　go　to　the　jail。〃

Mrs。　French　considered　a　moment。　　〃Let　us　first　take　these　children　to　the　hospital　and　then　we　shall　meet　Paulina　at　the　jail。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃tell　them　so。　　I　am　at　your　service。〃

〃You　are　awfully　good；　Doctor；〃　said　the　little　lady；　her　sweet　smile　once　more　finding　its　way　to　her　pale　face。

〃Ain't　I；　though？〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃If　the　spring　were　a　little　further　advanced　you'd　see　my　wings　sprouting。　　I　enjoy　this。　　I　haven't　had　such　fun　since　my　last　football　match。　　I　see　the　finish　of　that　jail　guard。　　Come　on。〃

Within　an　hour　the　doctor　and　Mrs。　French　drove　up　to　the　jail。　There；　at　the　bleak　north　door；　swept　by　the　chill　March　wind；　and　away　from　the　genial　light　of　the　shining　sun；　they　found　Paulina　and　her　children；　a　shivering；　timid；　shrinking　group；　looking　pathetically　strange　and　forlorn　in　their　quaint　Galician　garb。

The　pathos　of　the　picture　appeared　to　strike　both　the　doctor　and　his　friend　at　the　same　time。

〃Brute！〃　said　the　doctor；　〃it's　some　beast　of　an　understrapper。　　He　might　have　let　them　in；　anyway。　　I'll　see　the　head　turnkey。〃

〃Isn't　it　terribly　sad？〃　replied　Mrs。　French。

The　doctor　rang　the　bell　at　the　jail　door；　prepared　for　battle。

〃I　want　to　see　Mr。　Cowan。〃

The　guard　glanced　past　the　doctor；　saw　the　shrinking　group　behind　him　and　gruffly　announced；　〃This；　is　not　the　hour　for　visitors。〃

〃I　want　to　see　Mr。　Cowan；〃　repeated　the　doctor　slowly；　looking　the　guard　steadily　in　the　eye。　　〃Is　he　in？〃

〃Come　in；〃　said　the　guard　sullenly；　allowing　the　doctor　and　his　friend　to　enter；　and　shutting　the　door　in　the　faces　of　the　Galicians。

In　a　few　moments　Mr。　Cowan　appeared；　a　tall　athletic　man；　kindly　of　face　and　of　manner。　　He　greeted　Mrs。　French　and　the　doctor　warmly。

〃Come　into　the　office；〃　he　said；　〃come　in。〃

〃Mr。　Cowan；〃　said　Mrs。　French；　〃there　is　a　poor　Galician　woman　and　her　children　outside　the　door；　the　wife　and　children　of　the　man　who　was　condemned　yesterday。　　The　Judge　told　them　they　could　see　the　prisoner　to…day。〃

〃The　hour　for　visitors；〃　said　Mr。　Cowan；　〃is　three　in　the　afternoon。〃

〃Could　you　not　let　her　in　now？　　She　has　already　waited　for　hours　at　the　door　this　morning；　and　on　being　refused　went　home　broken…　hearted。　　She　does　not　understand　our　ways　and　is　very　timid。　　I　wish　you　could　let　her　in　now　while　I　am　here。〃

Mr。　Cowan　hesitated。　　〃I　should　greatly　like　to　oblige　you；　Mrs。　French。　　You　know　that。　　Sit　down；　and　I　will　see。　　Let　that　woman　and　her　children　in；〃　he　said　to　the　guard。

The　guard　went　sullenly　to　the　door；　followed　by　Mrs。　French。

〃Come　in　here；〃　he　said　in　a　gruff　voice。

Mrs。　French　hurried　past　him；　took　Paulina　by　the　arm；　and　saying；　〃Come　in　and　sit　down；〃　led　her　to　a　bench　and　sat　beside　her。　〃It's　all　right；〃　she　whispered。　　〃I　am　sure　you　can　see　your　husband。　　Tell　her；〃　she　said　to　Irma。

In　a　short　time　Mr。　Cowan　came　back。

〃They　may　see　him；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　against　all　discipline；　but　it　is　pretty　hard　to　resist　Mrs。　French；〃　he　continued；　turning　to　the　doctor。

〃It　is　quite　useless　trying！〃　said　the　doctor；　〃I　have　long　ago　discovered　that。〃

〃Come；〃　said　that　little　lady　leading　Paulina　to　the　door　of　the　cell。

The　guard　turned　the　lock；　shot　back　the　bolts；　opened　the　door　and　motioning　with　his　hand；　said　gruffly　to　Paulina；　〃Go　in。〃

The　woman　looked　into　the　cell　in　shrinking　fear。

〃Go　on；〃　said　Mrs。　French　in　an　encouraging　voice；　patting　her　on　the　shoulder；　〃I　will　wait　here。〃

Clinging　to　one　another；　the　woman　and　children　passed　in　through　the　door　which　the　guard　closed　behind　them　with　a　reverberating　clang。　　Mrs。　French　sat　on　the　bench　outside；　her