"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。’"