the foreigner-第9节

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Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　scanned　his　face　suspiciously；　then　called；　〃Irma　darlin'；　come　here　an'　tell　me　who　this　is。　　Give　the　babby　to　Tim　there；　an'　come　away。〃

A　girl　of　between　eleven　and　twelve；　tall　for　her　age；　with　pale　face；　two　thick　braids　of　yellow　hair；　and　wonderful　eyes　〃burnin'　brown；〃　as　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　said；　came　to　the　door　and　looked　out　upon　the　man。　　For　some　time　they　gazed　steadily　each　into　the　other's　face。

〃Irma；　my　child；〃　said　Kalmar　in　English；　〃you　know　me？〃

But　the　girl　stood　gazing　in　perplexity。

〃Irma！　　Child　of　my　soul！〃　cried　the　man；　in　the　Russian　tongue；　〃do　you　not　remember　your　father？〃　　He　stepped　from　the　shadow　to　where　the　light　from　the　open　door　could　fall　upon　his　face　and　stood　with　arms　outstretched。

At　once　the　girl's　face　changed；　and　with　a　cry；　〃It　is　my　fadder！〃　she　threw　herself　at　him。

Her　father　caught　her　and　held　her　fast；　saying　not　a　word；　but　covering　her　face　with　kisses。

〃Come　in；　come　in　to　the　warm；〃　cried　the　kindhearted　Irish　woman；　wiping　her　eyes。　　〃Come　in　out　o'　the　cold。〃　　And　with　eager　hospitality　she　hurried　the　father　and　children　into　the　house。

As　they　passed　in；　Paulina　turned　away。　　Before　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　shut　the　door；　Irma　caught　her　arm　and　whispered　in　her　ear。

〃Paulina；　is　it？　　Let　her　shtop〃　　She　paused；　looking　at　the　Russian。

〃Your　pardon？〃　he　enquired　with　a　bow。

〃It's　Paulina；〃　said　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick；　her　voice　carrying　the　full　measure　of　her　contempt　for　the　unhappy　creature　who　stood　half　turning　away　from　the　door。

〃Ah；　let　her　go。　　It　is　no　difference。　　She　is　a　sow。　　Let　her　go。〃

〃Thin　she's　not　your　wife　at　all？〃　said　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick；　her　wrath　rising　at　this　discovery　of　further　deception　in　Paulina。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃She　was　once。　　I　married　her。　　She　is　wife　no　longer。　　Let　her　go。〃

His　contemptuous　indifference　turned　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick's　wrath　upon　him。

〃An'　it's　yersilf　that　ought　to　take　shame　to　yersilf　fer　the　way　ye've　treated　her；　an'　so　ye　should！〃

The　man　waved　his　hand　as　if　to　brush　aside　a　matter　of　quite　trifling　moment。

〃It　matters　not；〃　he　repeated。　　〃She　is　only　a　cow。〃

〃Let　her　come　in；〃　whispered　Irma；　laying　her　hand　again　on　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick's　arm。

〃Sure　she　will；〃　cried　the　Irish　woman；　〃come　in　here；　you　poor；　spiritless　craythur。〃

Irma　sprang　down　the　steps；　spoke　a　few　hurried　words　in　Galician。　Poor　Paulina　hesitated；　her　eyes　upon　her　husband's　face。　　He　made　a　contemptuous　motion　with　his　hand　as　if　calling　a　dog　to　heel。　Immediately；　like　a　dog；　the　woman　crept　in　and　sat　far　away　from　the　fire　in　a　corner　of　the　room。

〃Ye'll　pardon　me；〃　said　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　to　Kalmar；　〃fer　not　axin'　ye　in　at　the　first；　but　indade；　an'　it's　more　your　blame　than　mine；　fer　sorra　a　bit　o'　thim　takes　afther　ye。〃

〃They　do　not　resemble　me；　you　mean？〃　said　the　father。　　〃No；　they　are　the　likeness　of　their　mother。〃　　As　he　spoke　he　pulled　out　a　leather　case；　opened　it　and　passed　it　to　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick。

〃Aw；　will　ye　look　at　that　now！〃　she　cried；　gazing　at　the　beautiful　miniature。　　〃An'　the　purty　face　av　her。　　Sure；　it's　a　rale　queen　she　was；　an'　that's　no　lie。　　An'　the　girl　is　goin'　to　be　the　very　spit　av　her。　　An'　the　bye；　he's　got　her　blue　eyes　an'　her　bright　hair。　　It's　aisy　seen　where　they　git　their　looks；〃　she　added；　glancing　at　him。

〃Mind　yer　manners；　now　thin；〃　growled　Tim；　who　was　very　considerably　impressed　by　the　military　carriage　and　the　evident　〃quality〃　of　their　guest。

〃Yes；　the　children　have　the　likeness　of　their　mother；〃　said　the　father　in　a　voice　soft　and　reminiscent。　　〃It　is　in　their　behalf　I　am　here　to…night；　Madamwhat　shall　I　have　the　honour　to　name　you？〃

〃Me　name；　is　it？〃　cried　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick。　　〃Mishtress　Timothy　Fitzpatrick；　Monaghan　that　was；　the　Monaghans　o'　Ballinghalereen；　an　owld　family；　poor　as　Job's　turkey；　but　proud　as　the　divil；　an'　wance　the　glory　o'　Mayo。　　An'　this；〃　she　added；　indicating　her　spouse　with　a　jerk　of　her　thumb；　〃is　Timothy　Fitzpatrick；　me　husband；　a　dacent　man　in　his　way。　　Timothy；　where's　yer　manners？　Shtand　up　an'　do　yer　duty。〃

Tim　struggled　to　his　feet；　embarrassed　with　the　burden　of　Paulina's　baby；　and　pulled　his　forelock。

〃And　my　name；〃　said　the　Russian；　answering　Timothy's　salutation　with　a　profound　bow；　〃is　Michael　Kalmar；　with　respect　to　you　and　Mr。　Vichpatrick。〃

Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　was　evidently　impressed。

〃An'　proud　I　am　to　see　ye　in　me　house；〃　she　said；　answering　his　bow　with　a　curtsey。　　〃Tim；　ye　owl　ye！　　Why　don't　ye　hand　his　honour　a　chair？　　Did　ye　niver　git　the　air　o'　a　gintleman　before？〃

It　took　some　minutes　to　get　the　company　settled；　owing　to　the　reluctance　of　the　Russian　to　seat　himself　while　the　lady　was　standing；　and　the　equal　reluctance　of　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　to　take　her　seat　until　she　had　comfortably　settled　her　guest。

〃I　come　to　you；　Mrs。　Vichpatrick；　on　behalf　of　my　children。〃

〃An'　fine　childer　they　are；　barrin'　the　lad　is　a　bit　av　a　limb　betimes。〃

In　courteous　and　carefully　studied　English；　Kalmar　told　his　need。　His　affairs　called　him　to　Europe。　　He　might　be　gone　a　year；　perhaps　more。　　He　needed　some　one　to　care　for　his　children。　　Paulina；　though　nothing　to　him　now；　would　be　faithful　in　caring　for　them；　as　far　as　food；　clothing　and　shelter　were　concerned。　　She　would　dismiss　her　boarders。　　There　had　never　been　need　of　her　taking　boarders；　but　for　the　fraud　of　a　wicked　man。　　It　was　at　this　point　that　he　needed　help。　　Would　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　permit　him　to　send　her　money　from　time　to　time　which　should　be　applied　to　the　support　of　Paulina　and　the　children。　　He　would　also　pay　her　for　her　trouble。

At　this　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick；　who　had　been　listening　impatiently　for　some　moments；　broke　forth　upon　him。

〃Ye　can　kape　yer　money；〃　she　cried　wrathfully。　　〃What　sort　av　a　man　are　ye；　at　all；　at　all；　that　ye　sind　yer　helpless　childer　to　a　strange　land　with　a　scut　like　that？〃

〃Paulina　was　an　honest　woman　once；〃　he　interposed。

〃An'　what　for；〃　she　continued　wrathfully；　〃are　ye　lavin'　thim　now　among　a　pack　o'　haythen？　　Look　at　that　girl　now；　what'll　come　to　her　in　that　bloody　pack　o'　thieves　an'　blackguards；　d'ye　think？　Howly　Joseph！　　It's　mesilf　that　kapes　wakin'　benights　to　listen　fer　the　screams　av　her。　　Why　don't　ye　shtay　like　a　man　by　yer　childer　an'　tell　me　that？〃

〃My　affairs〃　began　the　Russian；　with　a　touch　of　hauteur　in　his　tone。

〃An'　what　affairs　have　ye　needin'　ye　more　than　yer　childer？　　Tell　me　that；　will　ye？〃

And　truth　to　tell；　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick's　indignation　blazed　forth　not　only　on　behalf　of　the　children；　but　on　behalf　of　the　unfortunate　Paulina　as　well；　whom；　in　spite　of　herself；　she　pitied。

〃What　sort　av　a　heart　have　ye；　at　all；　at　all？〃

〃A　heart！〃　cried　the　Russian；　rising　from　his　chair。　　〃Madam；　my　heart　is　for　my　country。　　But　you　would　not　understand。　　My　country　calls　me。〃

〃Yer　counthry！〃　repeated　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　with　scorn。　　〃An'　what　counthry　is　that？〃

〃Russia；〃　said　the　man　with　dignity；　〃my　native　land。〃

〃Rooshia！　　An'　a　bloody　country　it　is；〃　answered　Mrs。　Fitzpatrick　with　scorn。

〃Yes；　Russia；〃　he　cried；　〃my　bloody　country！　　You　are　correct。　Red　with　the　blood　of　my　countrymen；　the　blood　of　my　kindred　this　hundred　years　and　more。〃　　His　voice　was　low　but　vibrant　with　passion。　　〃You　cannot　understand。　　Why　should　I　tell　you？〃

At　this　juncture　Timothy　sprang　to　his　feet。

〃Sit　ye　down；　dear　man；　sit　ye　down！　　Shut　yer　clapper；　Nora！　　Sure　it's　mesilf　that　knows　a　paythriot　whin　I　sees　'im。　　Tear…an…ages！　Give　me　yer　hand；　me　boy。　　Sit　ye　down　an'　tell　us　about　it。　　We're　all　the　same　kind　here。　　Niver　fear　for　the　woman；　she's　the　worst　o'　the　lot。　　Tell　us；　dear　man。　　Be　the　light　that　shines！　it's　mesilf　that's　thirsty　to　hear。〃

The　Russian　gazed　at　the　shining　eyes　of　the　little　Irishman　as　if　he　had　gone　mad。　　Then；　as　if　the　light　had　broken　upon　him；　he　cried；　〃Aha；　you　are　of　Ireland。　　You；　too；　are　fighting　the　tyrant。〃

〃Hooray；　me　boy！〃　shouted　Tim；　〃an'　it's　the　thrue　word　ye've　shpoke；　an'　niver　a　lie　in　the　skin　av　it。　　Oireland　foriver！　　Be　the　howly　St。　Patrick　an'　all　the　saints；　I　am　wid　ye　an'　agin　ivery　government　that's　iver　robbed　an　honest　man。　　Go　on；　me　boy；　tell　us　yer　tale。〃

Timothy　was　undoubtedly　excited。　　The　traditions　of　a　hundred　years　of　fierce　rebellion　against　the　oppression　of　the　〃bloody　tyrant〃　were　beating　at　his　brain　and　in　his　heart。　　The　Russian　caught　fire　from　him　and　launched　forth　upon　his　tale。　　For　a　full　hour；　now　sitting　in　his　chair；　now　raging　up　and　down　the　room；　now　in　a　voice　deep；　calm　and　terrible；　now　broken　and　hoarse　with　sobs；　he　recounted　deeds　of　blood　and　fire　that　made　Ireland's　struggle　and　Ireland's　wrongs　seem　nursery　rhymes。

Timothy　listened　to　the　terrible　story　in　an　ecstasy　of　alternating　joy　and　fury；　according　to　the　nature　of　the　episode　related。　　It　was　like　living　again　the　glorious　days　of　the　moonlighters　and　the　rackrenters　in　dear　old　Ireland。　　The　tale　came　to　an　abrupt　end。

〃An'　thin　what　happened？〃　cried　Timothy。

〃Then；〃　said　the　Russian　quietly；　〃then　it　was　Siberia。〃

〃Siberia！　　The　Hivins　be　about　us！〃　said　Tim　in　an　awed　voice。　〃But　ye　got　away？〃

〃I　am　here；〃　he　replied　simply。

〃Be　the　sowl　of　Moses；　ye　are