第40部分(第6/7 頁)

e　doctor　said。

〃Oh；　darling；　I　have　the　most　wonderful　doctor；〃　Catherine　said　in　a　very　strange　voice。　〃He's　been　telling　me　the　most　wonderful　story　and　when　the　pain　came　too　badly　he　put　me　all　the　way　out。　He's　wonderful。　You're　wonderful；　doctor。〃

〃You're　drunk；〃　I　said。

〃I　know　it；〃　Catherine　said。　〃But　you　shouldn't　say　it。〃　Then　〃Give　it　to　me。　Give　it　to　me。〃　She　clutched　hold　of　the　mask　and　breathed　short　and　deep；　pantingly；　making　the　respirator　click。　Then　she　gave　a　long　sigh　and　the　doctor　reached　with　his　left　hand　and　lifted　away　the　mask。

〃That　was　a　very　big　one；〃　Catherine　said。　Her　voice　was　very　strange。　〃I'm　not　going　to　die　now；　darling。　I'm　past　where　I　was　going　to　die。　Aren't　you　glad？〃

〃Don't　you　get　in　that　place　again。〃

〃I　won't。　I'm　not　afraid　of　it　though。　I　won't　die；　darling。〃

〃You　will　not　do　any　such　foolishness；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃You　would　not　die　and　leave　your　husband。〃

〃Oh；　no。　I　won't　die。　I　wouldn't　die。　It's　silly　to　die。　There　it　es。　Give　it　to　me。〃

After　a　while　the　doctor　said；　〃You　will　go　out；　Mr。　Henry；　for　a　few　moments　and　I　will　make　an　examination。〃

〃He　wants　to　see　how　I　am　doing；〃　Catherine　said。　〃You　can　e　back　afterward；　darling；　can't　he；　doctor？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃I　will　send　word　when　he　can　e　back。〃

I　went　out　the　door　and　down　the　hall　to　the　room　where　Catherine　was　to　be　after　the　baby　came。　I　sat　in　a　chair　there　and　looked　at　the　room。　I　had　the　paper　in　my　coat　that　I　had　bought　when　I　went　out　for　lunch　and　I　read　it。　It　was　beginning　to　be　dark　outside　and　I　turned　the　light　on　to　read。　After　a　while　I　stopped　reading　and　turned　off　the　light　and　watched　it　get　dark　outside。　I　wondered　why　the　doctor　did　not　s