Part 5 (1/2)
I wait behind yon hut. No word to any man.”
”You mean to kill me,” she said, her fat body shaking as if with palsy.
”Bah! You Sow! Who would kill a sow? Come forth, I say. Delay not.”
He disappeared at once behind the neighbouring shack. Paulina, trembling so that her fingers could hardly pin the shawl she put over her head, made her way through the crowd. A few moments she stood before her door, as if uncertain which way to turn, her limbs trembling, her breath coming like sobs. In this plight Rosenblatt came upon her.
”What is the matter with you, Paulina?” he cried. ”What is your business here?”
A swift change came over her.
”I am no dog of yours,” she said, her sullen face flaming with pa.s.sion.
”What do you mean?” cried Rosenblatt. ”Get into your house, cat!”
”Yes! cat!” cried the woman, rus.h.i.+ng at him with fingers extended.
One swift swoop she made at his face, bringing skin and hair on her nails. Rosenblatt turned, and crying, ”She is mad! She is mad!”
made for the shelter of the cellar, followed by the shouts and jeers of the men standing about.
Raging, at the door Paulina sought entrance, crying, ”I was a good woman. He made me bad.” Then turning away, she walked slowly to the back of her house and pa.s.sed behind the neighbouring shack where the man stood waiting her.
With dragging steps she approached, till within touch of him, when, falling down upon her knees in the snow, she put her head upon his feet.
”Get up, fool,” he cried harshly.
She rose and stood with her chin upon her breast.
”My children!” said the man. ”Where are my children?”
She pointed towards the house of her neighbour, Mrs. Fitzpatrick.
”With a neighbour woman,” she said, and turned herself toward him again with head bowed down.
”And yours?” he hissed.
She shuddered violently.
”Speak,” he said in a voice low, calm and terrible. ”Do you wish me to kill you where you stand?”
”Yes,” she said, throwing her shawl over her face, ”kill me!
Kill me now! It will be good to die!”
With a curse, his hand went to his side. He stood looking at her quietly for a few moments as if deliberating.
”No,” he said at length, ”it is not worth while. You are no wife of mine. Do you hear?”
She gave no sign.
”You are Rosenblatt's swine. Let him use you.”