第42部分(第3/5 頁)

tly　calm。　The　men　stood　around　but　no　one　was　leaving；　so　they　went　out。　I　drank　another　beer。　There　was　quite　a　pile　of　saucers　now　on　the　table　in　front　of　me。　The　man　opposite　me　had　taken　off　his　spectacles；　put　them　away　in　a　case；　folded　his　paper　and　put　it　in　his　pocket　and　now　sat　holding　his　liqueur　glass　and　looking　out　at　the　room。　Suddenly　I　knew　I　had　to　get　back。　I　called　the　waiter；　paid　the　reckoning；　got　into　my　coat；　put　on　my　hat　and　started　out　the　door。　I　walked　through　the　rain　up　to　the　hospital。

Upstairs　I　met　the　nurse　ing　down　the　hall。

〃I　just　called　you　at　the　hotel；〃　she　said。　Something　dropped　inside　me。

〃What　is　wrong？〃

〃Mrs。　Henry　has　had　a　hemorrhage。〃

〃Can　I　go　in？〃

〃No；　not　yet。　The　doctor　is　with　her。〃

〃Is　it　dangerous？〃

〃It　is　very　dangerous。〃　The　nurse　went　into　the　room　and　shut　the　door。　I　sat　outside　in　the　hail。　Everything　was　gone　inside　of　me。　I　did　not　think。　I　could　not　think。　I　knew　she　was　going　to　die　and　I　prayed　that　she　would　not。　Don't　let　her　die。　Oh；　God；　please　don't　let　her　die。　I'll　do　anything　for　you　if　you　won't　let　her　die。　Please；　please；　please；　dear　God；　don't　let　her　die。　Dear　God；　don't　let　her　die。　Please；　please；　please　don't　let　her　die。　God　please　make　her　not　die。　I'll　do　anything　you　say　if　you　don't　let　her　die。　You　took　the　baby　but　don't　let　her　die。　That　was　all　right　but　don't　let　her　die。　Please；　please；　dear　God；　don't　let　her　die。

The　nurse　opened　the　door　and　motioned　with　her　finger　for　me　to　e。　I　followed　her　into　the　room。　Catherine　did　not　look　up　when　I　came　in。　I　went　over　to　the　side　of　the　bed。　The　doctor　was　standing　by　the　bed　on　the　opposite　side。　Catherine　looked　at　me　and　smiled。　I　bent　down　over　the　bed　and　start