第132章

“Monday，thereweretheoddjobsaboutthehousetobebegun。Hewasbythistimejustsoberenoughtodohiswork，andjusttipsyenoughtotakeaspitefulpleasureinpersecutinghiswife。Hewentoutandgotthethingshewanted，andcamebackandcalledforme。Askilledworkmanlikehewas(hesaid)wantedajourneymanunderhim。Therewerethingswhichitwasbeneathaskilledworkmantodoforhimself。Hewasnotgoingtocallinamanoraboy，andthenhavetopaythem。Hewasgoingtogetitdonefornothing，andhemeanttomakeajourneymanof_me。_Halftipsyandhalfsober，hewentontalkinglikethat，andlayingouthisthings，allquiteright，ashewantedthem。Whentheywerereadyhestraightenedhimselfup，andhegavemehisorderswhatIwastodo。

“Iobeyedhimtothebestofmyability。Whateverhesaid，andwhateverhedid，Iknewhewasgoingasstraightasmancouldgotohisowndeathbymyhands。

“Theratsandmicewerealloverthehouse，andtheplacegenerallywasoutofrepair。Heoughttohavebegunonthekitchen-floor；but(havingsentencepronouncedagainsthim)hebeganintheemptyparlorsontheground-floor。

“Theseparlorswereseparatedbywhatiscalleda’lath-and-plasterwall。’Theratshaddamagedit。Atoneparttheyhadgnawedthroughandspoiledthepaper，atanotherparttheyhadnotgotsofar。Thelandlord’sordersweretosparethepaper，becausehehadsomebyhimtomatchit。Myhusbandbeganataplacewherethepaperwaswhole。UnderhisdirectionsI

mixedup——Iwon’tsaywhat。Withthehelpofithegotthepaperloosefromthewall，withoutinjuringitinanyway，inalonghangingstrip。Underitwastheplasterandthelaths，gnawedawayinplacesbytherats。Thoughstrictlyapaperhangerbytrade，hecouldbeplasterertoowhenheliked。Isawhowhecutawaytherottenlathsandrippedofftheplaster；and(underhisdirectionsagain)Imixedupthenewplasterhewanted，andhandedhimthenewlaths，andsawhowhesetthem。Iwon’tsayawordabouthowthiswasdoneeither。

“Ihaveareasonforkeepingsilencehere，whichis，tomymind，averydreadfulone。Ineverythingthatmyhusbandmademedothatdayhewasshowingme(blindfold)thewaytokillhim，sothatnolivingsoul，inthepoliceoroutofit，couldsuspectmeofthedeed。

“Wefinishedthejobonthewalljustbeforedark。Iwenttomycupoftea，andhewenttohisbottleofgin。

“Ilefthim，drinkinghard，toputourtwobedroomstidyforthenight。Theplacethathisbedhappenedtobesetin(whichIhadneverremarkedparticularlybefore)seemed，inamannerofspeaking，toforceitselfonmynoticenow。

“Theheadofthebedsteadwassetagainstthewallwhichdividedhisroomfrommine。FromlookingatthebedsteadIgottolookingatthewallnext。Thentowonderingwhatitwasmadeof。Thentorappingagainstitwithmyknuckles。Thesoundtoldmetherewasnothingbutlathandplasterunderthepaper。Itwasthesameasthewallwehadbeenatworkondownstairs。Wehadclearedourwaysofarthroughthislast——incertainplaceswheretherepairsweremostneeded——thatwehadtobecarefulnottoburstthroughthepaperintheroomontheotherside。Ifoundmyselfcallingtomindthecautionmyhusbandhadgivenmewhilewewereatthispartofthework，wordforwordashehadspokenit。_’Takecareyoudon’tfindyourhandsinthenextroom。’_Thatwaswhathehadsaiddownintheparlor。UpinhisbedroomIkeptonrepeatingitinmyownmind——withmyeyesallthewhileonthekey，whichhehadmovedtotheinnersideofthedoortolockhimselfin——tilltheknowledgeofwhatitmeantburstonmelikeaflashoflight。Ilookedatthewall，atthebedhead，atmyowntwohands——andIshiveredasifitwaswintertime。

“HoursmusthavepassedlikeminuteswhileIwasupstairsthatnight。Ilostallcountoftime。Whenmyh