第41部分(第6/7 頁)

　took　it　very　rapidly　down　the　hallway　to　the　elevator。　I　went　along　beside　it。　Catherine　was　moaning。　Downstairs　they　put　her　in　the　bed　in　her　room。　I　sat　in　a　chair　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。　There　was　a　nurse　in　the　room。　I　got　up　and　stood　by　the　bed。　It　was　dark　in　the　room。　Catherine　put　out　her　hand。　〃Hello；　darling；〃　she　said。　Her　voice　was　very　weak　and　tired。

〃Hello；　you　sweet。〃

〃What　sort　of　baby　was　it？〃

〃Sh……don't　talk；〃　the　nurse　said。

〃A　boy。　He's　long　and　wide　and　dark。〃

〃Is　he　all　right？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃He's　fine。〃

I　saw　the　nurse　look　at　me　strangely。

〃I'm　awfully　tired；〃　Catherine　said。　〃And　I　hurt　like　hell。　Are　you　all　right；　darling？〃

〃I'm　fine。　Don't　talk。〃

〃You　were　lovely　to　me。　Oh；　darling；　I　hurt　dreadfully。　What　does　he　look　like？〃

〃He　looks　like　a　skinned　rabbit　with　a　puckered…up　old…man's　face。〃

〃You　must　go　out；〃　the　nurse　said。　〃Madame　Henry　must　not　talk。〃

〃I'll　be　outside。〃

〃Go　and　get　something　to　eat。〃

〃No。　I'll　be　outside。〃　I　kissed　Catherine。　She　was　very　gray　and　weak　and　tired。

〃May　I　speak　to　you？〃　I　said　to　the　nurse。　She　came　out　in　the　hall　with　me。　I　walked　a　little　way　down　the　hall。

〃What's　the　matter　with　the　baby？〃　I　asked。

〃Didn't　you　know？〃

〃No。〃

〃He　wasn't　alive。〃

〃He　was　dead？〃

〃They　couldn't　start　him　breathing。　The　cord　was　caught　around　his　neck　or　something。〃

〃So　he's　dead。〃

〃Yes。　It's　such　a　shame。　He　was　such　a　fine　big　boy。　I　thought　you　knew。〃

〃No；〃　I　said。　〃You　better　go　back　in　with　Madame。〃

I　sat　down　on　the　chair　in　front　of　a　table　where　there　were　nurses'　reports　hung　on　clips　at　the　side　and　looked　out　of　the　window。　I　could