第41部分(第1/7 頁)

y　having　a　bad　time。　Afterward　we'd　say　what　a　bad　time　and　Catherine　would　say　it　wasn't　really　so　bad。　But　what　if　she　should　die？　She　can't　die。　Yes；　but　what　if　she　should　die？　She　can't；　I　tell　you。　Don't　be　a　fool。　It's　just　a　bad　time。　It's　just　nature　giving　her　hell。　It's　only　the　first　labor；　which　is　almost　always　protracted。　Yes；　but　what　if　she　should　die？　She　can't　die。　Why　would　she　die？　What　reason　is　there　for　her　to　die？　There's　just　a　child　that　has　to　be　born；　the　by…product　of　good　nights　in　Milan。　It　makes　trouble　and　is　born　and　then　you　look　after　it　and　get　fond　of　it　maybe。　But　what　if　she　should　die？　She　won't　die。　But　what　if　she　should　die？　She　won't。　She's　all　right。　But　what　if　she　should　die？　She　can't　die。　But　what　if　she　should　die？　Hey；　what　about　that？　What　if　she　should　die？

The　doctor　came　into　the　room。

〃How　does　it　go；　doctor？〃

〃It　doesn't　go；〃　he　said。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Just　that。　I　made　an　examination……〃　He　detailed　the　result　of　the　examination。　〃Since　then　I've　waited　to　see。　But　it　doesn't　go。〃

〃What　do　you　advise？〃

〃There　are　two　things。　Either　a　high　forceps　delivery　which　can　tear　and　be　quite　dangerous　besides　being　possibly　bad　for　the　child；　and　a　Caesarean。〃

〃What　is　the　danger　of　a　Caesarean？〃　What　if　she　should　die！

〃It　should　be　no　greater　than　the　danger　of　an　ordinary　delivery。〃

〃Would　you　do　it　yourself？〃

〃Yes。　I　would　need　possibly　an　hour　to　get　things　ready　and　to　get　the　people　I　would　need。　Perhaps　a　little　less。〃

〃What　do　you　think？〃

〃I　would　advise　a　Caesarean　operation。　If　it　were　my　wife　I　would　do　a　Caesarean。〃

〃What　are　the　after　effects？〃

〃There　are　none。　There　is　only　the　scar。〃

〃Wha