CHAPTER 15.
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Soon after daylight, on the next morning, a low-browed, harsh-looking Irishman stood talking with a small, dark-eyed woman in the kitchen of Imperial Hotel, Camden, New Jersey. The latter had a quick, nervous, uneasy motion of the head, and seemed much excited. She had rather a handsome visage, so far as regularity of features was concerned; but her countenance was marred by an evil and sinister expression.
"I've been thinking a good deal about this business," said the former, "and, Biddy, I'm more inclined to let her go. She's been punished enough — and I feel like letting bygones be bygones. I've no good feelings for her. But, I can't just feel right in driving her to very madness, as it surely will be, if Mr. Waverly finds her. Poor thing, she has suffered dreadfully."
"Jim McCarty!" the woman's dark eyes flashed, and her head moved with a quicker and more nervous motion. "Jim McCarty! are you a baby? A mere woman to forgive injuries so lightly? Didn't she ruin you in the best place you ever had, or ever will have, ha! Didn't she, Jim McCarty? Answer me that. And didn't she as good as call me a thief, and turn me out of doors, Jim McCarty — ha?"
"I've no good feelings for her, as I said, Biddy. But I've had my revenge."
"And would you let the likes of her steal away with Mr. Waverly's child — ha! Would you, Jim McCarty? And is this your gratitude?"
"Gratitude! To whom?"
"To Mr. Waverly!"
"Biddy Sharp!" And the Irishman turned quickly on the woman as he spoke. "Did you think I care a fig for Mr. Waverly? No! And as for gratitude, there is no debt due to him. When I had my revenge on his wife, did you think it wasn't in my heart to punish him? Could I strike her, without sending an arrow to his heart? No! bad luck to him! And since the court ending — what has he done for either you or me? For running the risk of ten years in the Penitentiary, what did we get but the paltry witness fees? Answer me that? Did he ever say, here Biddy, or here, Jim McCarty — is a check for a hundred dollars. Not a word on it. When the trial was over, he turned from us just the same as if we'd been the dust in the street! Never since that time, you or I could get a good place. Gratitude! Don't name that word again. I've no place for it in my heart."
The Irishman spoke with a good deal of feeling; but Biddy never changed countenance, nor seemed in the least moved by his words. Her answer was —
"Did you remember, Jim, when you went to Mrs. Mortimer's for the coachman's place that she'd promised you?"
The man startled, and a dark shadow flitted over his countenance.
"Tell me that, Jim McCarty!" urged Biddy, in an exultant tone, for she saw the effect of her words.
"And did you remember what answer you received, Jim McCarty — ha? Do you? I hardly think you could forget it in all your born days, or forgive it either."
A darker hue fell upon McCarty's face, and his parting lips showed that his teeth were tightly closed.
"Forget or forgive it? No!" came from his lips in a sharp, emphatic tone. "Never! never! But for this woman's cursed interference, I would have secured a good place — and something more. The job at Mrs. Mortimer's would have been more."
"And Mrs. Waverly was to fault, and no one else, for the loss. But you've forgiven her, Jim McCarty. You've grown saintly."
"I'll never forgive her in this world nor the next. I hate her!"
"Then take your revenge. She's again in your power, and there is no hope of escape. Go to Mr. Waverly and tell him she is here with his stolen child."
"No, I won't!"
"You won't?"
A flush came into the face of Biddy Sharp; her black eyes gleamed with malignant fire, and her regular features were distorted in the play of evil passion's.
"You won't, Jim McCarty!"
"No. I've said it, and I'll keep my word."
Very well, Jim; if your not a woman, I'll be stronger than you. I'll go to him."
"You will?"
"Yes I will. That woman shall never leave here with her child. I've sworn it, and I'll abide by it!"
"Very well. Go if you like. I shall make no hindrance. But, whatever is done, had better be done quickly. Mrs. Waverly will not remain here long. She'll be off early."
"You must see that she does not leave until my return."
"Very well; I'll do that much. But I won't go to Mr. Waverly. In truth, I've no wish to look upon his face nor to have anything more to do with him."
"Just as you please, Jim McCarty. Just as you please," returned Biddy with some impatience in her manner. "Only do see that the woman doesn't get off; and I'll take care of the rest. I'm not afraid to see him — not I! I can look any man in the face without blinking."
"Even the sheriff?" said McCarty, half maliciously.
"Don't speak of him," retorted Biddy, angrily. "He'll have to do with you, quite as soon as he will with me."
"Whatever is done must be done quickly," said McCarty, not noticing this little ebullition of feeling. "If you go to Mr. Waverly, no time should be lost. I'll see that she doesn't leave here in the meantime."
"It shall be done quickly enough," returned Biddy. "I'll go over in the first boat."
"Perhaps you'll get a check for a hundred dollars," said the man, in a half tantalizing voice.
"If I don't, maybe it will be his loss in the end," was the quick reply; saying which, Biddy left her companion to make hurried preparation for her mission to the city.
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