第41部分(第5/7 頁)

not　seem　to　have　anything　to　do　with　me。　I　felt　no　feeling　of　fatherhood。

〃Aren't　you　proud　of　your　son？〃　the　nurse　asked。　They　were　washing　him　and　wrapping　him　in　something。　I　saw　the　little　dark　face　and　dark　hand；　but　I　did　not　see　him　move　or　hear　him　cry。　The　doctor　was　doing　something　to　him　again。　He　looked　upset。

〃No；〃　I　said。　〃He　nearly　killed　his　mother。〃

〃It　isn't　the　little　darling's　fault。　Didn't　you　want　a　boy？〃

〃No；〃　I　said。　The　doctor　was　busy　with　him。　He　held　him　up　by　the　feet　and　slapped　him。　I　did　not　wait　to　see　it。　I　went　out　in　the　hail。　I　could　go　in　now　and　see。　I　went　in　the　door　and　a　little　way　down　the　gallery。　The　nurses　who　were　sitting　at　the　rail　motioned　for　me　to　e　down　where　they　were。　I　shook　my　head。　I　could　see　enough　where　I　was。

I　thought　Catherine　was　dead。　She　looked　dead。　Her　face　was　gray；　the　part　of　it　that　I　could　see。　Down　below；　under　the　light；　the　doctor　was　sewing　up　the　great　long；　forcep…spread；　thickedged；　wound。　Another　doctor　in　a　mask　gave　the　anaesthetic。　Two　nurses　in　masks　handed　things。　It　looked　like　a　drawing　of　the　Inquisition。　I　knew　as　I　watched　I　could　have　watched　it　all；　but　I　was　glad　I　hadn't。　I　do　not　think　I　could　have　watched　them　cut；　but　I　watched　the　wound　closed　into　a　high　welted　ridge　with　quick　skilful…looking　stitches　like　a　cobbler's；　and　was　glad。　When　the　wound　was　closed　I　went　out　into　the　hall　and　walked　up　and　down　again。　After　a　while　the　doctor　came　out。

〃How　is　she？〃

〃She　is　all　right。　Did　you　watch？〃

He　looked　tired。

〃I　saw　you　sew　up。　The　incision　looked　very　long。〃

〃You　thought　so？〃

〃Yes。　Will　that　scar　flatten　out？〃

〃Oh；　yes。〃

After　a　while　they　brought　out　the　wheeled　stretcher　and