第41部分(第2/7 頁)

t　about　infection？〃

〃The　danger　is　not　so　great　as　in　a　high　forceps　delivery。〃

〃What　if　you　just　went　on　and　did　nothing？〃

〃You　would　have　to　do　something　eventually。　Mrs。　Henry　is　already　losing　much　of　her　strength。　The　sooner　we　operate　now　the　safer。〃

〃Operate　as　soon　as　you　can；〃　I　said。

〃I　will　go　and　give　the　instructions。〃

I　went　into　the　delivery　room。　The　nurse　was　with　Catherine　who　lay　on　the　table；　big　under　the　sheet；　looking　very　pale　and　tired。

〃Did　you　tell　him　he　could　do　it？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes。〃

〃Isn't　that　grand。　Now　it　will　be　all　over　in　an　hour。　I'm　almost　done；　darling。　I'm　going　all　to　pieces。　Please　give　me　that。　It　doesn't　work。　Oh；　it　doesn't　work！〃

〃Breathe　deeply。〃

〃I　am。　Oh；　it　doesn't　work　any　more。　It　doesn't　work！〃

〃Get　another　cylinder；〃　I　said　to　the　nurse。

〃That　is　a　new　cylinder。〃

〃I'm　just　a　fool；　darling；〃　Catherine　said。　〃But　it　doesn't　work　any　more。〃　She　began　to　cry。　〃Oh；　I　wanted　so　to　have　this　baby　and　not　make　trouble；　and　now　I'm　all　done　and　all　gone　to　pieces　and　it　doesn't　work。　Oh；　darling；　it　doesn't　work　at　all。　I　don't　care　if　I　die　if　it　will　only　stop。　Oh；　please；　darling；　please　make　it　stop。　There　it　es。　Oh　Oh　Oh！〃　She　breathed　sobbingly　in　the　mask。

〃It　doesn't　work。　It　doesn't　work。　It　doesn't　work。　Don't　mind　me；　darling。　Please　don't　cry。　Don't　mind　me。　I'm　just　gone　all　to　pieces。　You　poor　sweet。　I　love　you　so　and　I'll　be　good　again。　I'll　be　good　this　time。　Can't　they　give　me　something？　If　they　could　only　give　me　something。〃

〃I'll　make　it　work。　I'll　turn　it　all　the　way。〃

〃Give　it　to　me　now。〃

I　turned　the　dial　all　the　way　and　as　she　breathed　hard　and　deep　her　hand　relaxed　on　the　mask。