第39部分(第6/7 頁)

re　hurrying　us　and　we　could　not　lose　any　time　together。

41

One　morning　I　awoke　about　three　o'clock　hearing　Catherine　stirring　in　the　bed。

〃Are　you　all　right；　Cat？〃

〃I've　been　having　some　pains；　darling。〃

〃Regularly？〃

〃No；　not　very。〃

〃If　you　have　them　at　all　regularly　we'll　go　to　the　hospital。〃

I　was　very　sleepy　and　went　back　to　sleep。　A　little　while　later　I　woke　again。

〃Maybe　you'd　better　call　up　the　doctor；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　think　maybe　this　is　it。〃

I　went　to　the　phone　and　called　the　doctor。　〃How　often　are　the　pains　ing？〃　he　asked。

〃How　often　are　they　ing；　Cat？〃

〃I　should　think　every　quarter　of　an　hour。〃

〃You　should　go　to　the　hospital；　then；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃I　will　dress　and　go　there　right　away　myself。〃

I　hung　up　and　called　the　garage　near　the　station　to　send　up　a　taxi。　No　one　answered　the　phone　for　a　long　time。　Then　I　finally　got　a　man　who　promised　to　send　up　a　taxi　at　once。　Catherine　was　dressing。　Her　bag　was　all　packed　with　the　things　she　would　need　at　the　hospital　and　the　baby　things。　Outside　in　the　hall　I　rang　for　the　elevator。　There　was　no　answer。　I　went　downstairs。　There　was　no　one　downstairs　except　the　night…watchman。　I　brought　the　elevator　up　myself；　put　Catherine's　bag　in　it；　she　stepped　in　and　we　went　down。　The　night…watchman　opened　the　door　for　us　and　we　sat　outside　on　the　stone　slabs　beside　the　stairs　down　to　the　driveway　and　waited　for　the　taxi。　The　night　was　clear　and　the　stars　were　out。　Catherine　was　very　excited。

〃I'm　so　glad　it's　started；〃　she　said。　〃Now　in　a　little　while　it　will　be　all　over。〃

〃You're　a　good　brave　girl。〃

〃I'm　not　afraid。　I　wish　the　taxi　would　e；　though。〃

We　heard　it　ing　up　the　street　and　saw　its　headlights。