第42部分(第4/5 頁)

ed　to　cry。

〃Poor　darling；〃　Catherine　said　very　softly。　She　looked　gray。

〃You're　all　right；　Cat；〃　I　said。　〃You're　going　to　be　all　right。〃

〃I'm　going　to　die；〃　she　said；　then　waited　and　said；　〃I　hate　it。〃

I　took　her　hand。

〃Don't　touch　me；〃　she　said。　I　let　go　of　her　hand。　She　smiled。　〃Poor　darling。　You　touch　me　all　you　want。〃

〃You'll　be　all　right；　Cat。　I　know　you'll　be　all　right。〃

〃I　meant　to　write　you　a　letter　to　have　if　anything　happened；　but　I　didn't　do　it。〃

〃Do　you　want　me　to　get　a　priest　or　any　one　to　e　and　see　you？〃

〃Just　you；〃　she　said。　Then　a　little　later；　〃I'm　not　afraid。　I　just　hate　it。〃

〃You　must　not　talk　so　much；〃　the　doctor　said。

〃All　right；〃　Catherine　said。

〃Do　you　want　me　to　do　anything；　Cat？　Can　I　get　you　anything？〃

Catherine　smiled；　〃No。〃　Then　a　little　later；　〃You　won't　do　our　things　with　another　girl；　or　say　the　same　things；　will　you？〃

〃Never。〃

〃I　want　you　to　have　girls；　though。〃

〃I　don't　want　them。〃

〃You　are　talking　too　much；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃Mr。　Henry　must　go　out。　He　can　e　back　again　later。　You　are　not　going　to　die。　You　must　not　be　silly。〃

〃All　right；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I'll　e　and　stay　with　you　nights；〃　she　said。　It　was　very　hard　for　her　to　talk。

〃Please　go　out　of　the　room；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃You　cannot　talk。〃　Catherine　winked　at　me；　her　face　gray。　〃I'll　be　right　outside；〃　I　said。

〃Don't　worry；　darling；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I'm　not　a　bit　afraid。　It's　just　a　dirty　trick。〃

〃You　dear；　brave　sweet。〃

I　waited　outside　in　the　hall。　I　waited　a　long　time。　The　nurse　came　to　the　door　and　came　over　to　me。　〃I'm　afraid　Mrs。　Henry　is　very　ill；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　afraid　for　her。〃

〃Is　she　dead？〃

〃No；　but　she　is