I wished to ask the Deputy if Callahan had told the truth; but my own
consciousness told me that she had. I had learned to esteem the man, and
I could not bear to hear him say that he was accessory to such
injustice, although I knew that it was his duty as a subordinate officer
to do as he had done.
I could not help questioning, Ought not the girl to be told what she is
punished for? Has she been "admonished?" The poor thing had no redress
for such injustice.
That was the point that she, too, was revolving in her mind. When I gave
her the bread and water, she said to me,--
"Look here, now, don't you think they ought to tell me what I am
punished for?"
"You must not ask me such questions. It isn't for me to sit in judgment
upon what the Master does."
She was intent on finding out my opinions, so she put her questions in a
different way.
"If you reported me, wouldn't you tell me what it was for?"
"Certainly! I should probably give you a good scolding before I had you
punished."
"If you was going to punish me just as you were a mind to, for speaking
on the walk, would you shut me up here two days and two nights for it?"
"Perhaps not; but how do you know that you are to stay here two days and
two nights?"
"Because they are never shut up for any shorter time."
"O'Brien and McMullins were only in for one day and a night."
"That was because you begged 'em off. But nobody'll beg me off. Say!
would you shut me up here for speaking on the walk?"
"Perhaps not; but you knew the rule, and disobeyed,--it is for
disobedience that you are punished."
"Ever so many of them talked,--they all talk; but none of 'em got
punished but me. They've got a spite against me,--is that right."
"Perhaps that is your jealousy, Callahan."
"No, it isn't. Four of us were talking together. If Thingsly saw one,
she saw the whole of us."
"Perhaps it isn't for that you are punished."
"Won't you find out? Won't you ask Hardhack?"
"No, I don't wish to."
"Are you afraid of her?"
"No!"
"Do you like that woman?"
"She is nothing to me. But if I were to ask her a question, about what
does not concern me, I might not get a civil answer."
I was fast arriving to the conclusion that it would be impossible for me
to assist in carrying out such a system of government.
The next day I spoke to the Deputy about letting her out. He shook his
head.
"If she was one of your women, and you had the care of her, I might."
When the two days were expired, he sent me round word to let Callahan
out at six o'clock. With my watch in my hand I did not defer it a moment
later. As I was waiting upon her to her room, I asked her,--
"Why had you rather go into solitary than sleep on the bars?"
"If I sleep on the bars, I lose just as much time, and have to work all
the next day. If I can't have my bed to sleep in, I won't work for 'em."
"I shouldn't think there would be much rest in solitary."
"There ain't; but I don't earn any money for them either."
There was retaliation with calculation.
"Callahan, I turned the key on you in solitary, and kept you there,--why
are you not angry with me?"
"You didn't do it out of spite--you never did me any wrong. If they only
punished me when I deserved it, I shouldn't be mad."
I did not know how to reprove the woman. "Callahan, be as good a woman
in the shop as you are with me."
"I'll try to; but they wake up the devil in me. I wish you would get me
into the kitchen."
"I'll try."