第189章

Then I was able to realise the misery I had come down to after all our blowing and roving.This was the crush-yard and no gateway.

I was safe to be hanged in six weeks, or thereabouts -- hanged like a dog!

Nothing could alter that, and I didn't want it if it could.

And how did the others get on, those that had their lives bound up with ours, so that we couldn't be hurt without their bleeding, almost in their hearts? -- that is, mother's bled to death, at any rate;when she heard of Jim's death and my being taken it broke her heart clean;she never held her head up after.Aileen told me in her letter she used to nurse his baby and cry over him all day, talking about her dear boy Jim.She was laid in the burying-ground at St.Kilda.

As to Aileen, she had long vowed herself to the service of the Virgin.

She knew that she was committing sin in pledging herself to an earthly love.

She had been punished for her sin by the death of him she loved, and she had settled in her mind to go into the convent at Soubiaca, where she should be able to wear out her life in prayer for those of her blood who still lived, as well as for the souls of those who lay in the little burying-ground on the banks of the far Warrego.

Jeanie settled to stop in Melbourne.She had money enough to keep her comfortable, and her boy would be brought up in a different style from his father.

As for Gracey, she sent me a letter in which she said she was like the bird that could only sing one song.She would remain true to me in life and death.George was very kind, and would never allow any one to speak harshly of his former friends.We must wait and make the best of it.

So I was able, you see, to get bits of news even in a condemned cell, from time to time, about the outside world.I learned that Wall and Hulbert and Moran and another fellow were still at large, and following up their old game.Their time, like ours, was drawing short, though.

Well, this has been a thundering long yarn, hasn't it? All my whole life I seem to have lived over again.It didn't take so long in the telling;it's a month to-day since I began.And this life itself has reeled away so quick, it hardly seems a dozen years instead of seven-and-twenty since it began.It won't last much longer.Another week and it will be over.

There's a fellow to be strung up before me, for murdering his wife.

The scoundrel, I wonder how he feels?

I've had visitors too; some I never thought to see inside this gaol wall.

One day who should come in but Mr.Falkland and his daughter.

There was a young gentleman with them that they told me was an English lord, a baronet, or something of that sort, and was to be married to Miss Falkland.

She stood and looked at me with her big innocent eyes, so pitiful and kind-like.I could have thrown myself down at her feet.

Mr.Falkland talked away, and asked me about this and that.

He seemed greatly interested.When I told him about the last fight, and of poor Jim being shot dead, and Starlight dying alongside the old horse, the tears came into Miss Falkland's eyes, and she cried for a bit, quite feeling and natural.

Mr.Falkland asked me all about the robbery at Mr.Knightley's, and took down a lot of things in his pocket-book.I wondered what he did that for.

When they said good-bye Mr.Falkland shook hands with me, and said `he hoped to be able to do some good for me, but not to build anything on the strength of it.'

Then Miss Falkland came forward and held out her beautiful hand to me -- to me, as sure as you live -- like a regular thoroughbred angel, as she always was.It very nigh cooked me.I felt so queer and strange, I couldn't have spoken a word to save my life.

Sir George, or whatever his name was, didn't seem to fancy it over much, for he said --`You colonists are strange people.Our friend here may think himself highly favoured.'

Miss Falkland turned towards him and held up her head, looking like a queen, as she was, and says she --`If you had met me in the last place where I saw this man and his brother, you would not wonder at my avowing my gratitude to both of them.

I should despise myself if I did not.Poor Jim saved my life on one occasion, and on another, but far more dreadful day, he -- but words, mere words, can never express my deep thankfulness for his noble conduct, and were he here now I would tell him so, and give him my hand, if all the world stood by.'

Sir George didn't say anything after that, and she swept out of the cell, followed by Mr.Falkland and him.It was just as well for him to keep a quiet tongue in his head.I expect she was a great heiress as well as a great beauty, and people of that sort, I've found, mostly get listened to when they speak.When the door shut I felt as if I'd seen the wings of an angel flit through it, and the prison grew darker and darker like the place of lost souls.