第41部分（第1页）

y　having　a　bad　time。　Afterward　wed　say　what　a　bad　time　and　Catherine　would　say　it　wasnt　really　so　bad。　But　what　if　she　should　die？　She　cant　die。　Yes；　but　what　if　she　should　die？　She　cant；　I　tell　you。　Dont　be　a　fool。　Its　just　a　bad　time。　Its　just　nature　giving　her　hell。　Its　only　the　first　labor；　which　is　almost　always　protracted。　Yes；　but　what　if　she　should　die？　She　cant　die。　Why　would　she　die？　What　reason　is　there　for　her　to　die？　Theres　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　wont　die。　But　what　if　she　should　die？　She　wont。　Shes　all　right。　But　what　if　she　should　die？　She　cant　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　doesnt　go；〃　he　said。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Just　that。　I　made　an　examination……〃　He　detailed　the　result　of　the　examination。　〃Since　then　Ive　waited　to　see。　But　it　doesnt　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。〃

〃What　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。〃

〃Isnt　that　grand。　Now　it　will　be　all　over　in　an　hour。　Im　almost　done；　darling。　Im　going　all　to　pieces。　Please　give　me　that。　It　doesnt　work。　Oh；　it　doesnt　work！〃

〃Breathe　deeply。〃

〃I　am。　Oh；　it　doesnt　work　any　more。　It　doesnt　work！〃

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

〃That　is　a　new　cylinder。〃

〃Im　just　a　fool；　darling；〃　Catherine　said。　〃But　it　doesnt　work　any　more。〃　She　began　to　cry。　〃Oh；　I　wanted　so　to　have　this　baby　and　not　make　trouble；　and　now　Im　all　done　and　all　gone　to　pieces　and　it　doesnt　work。　Oh；　darling；　it　doesnt　work　at　all。　I　dont　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　doesnt　work。　It　doesnt　work。　It　doesnt　work。　Dont　mind　me；　darling。　Please　dont　cry。　Dont　mind　me。　Im　just　gone　all　to　pieces。　You　poor　sweet。　I　love　you　so　and　Ill　be　good　again。　Ill　be　good　this　time。　Cant　they　give　me　something？　If　they　could　only　give　me　something。〃

〃Ill　make　it　work。　Ill　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。　I　shut　off　the　gas　and　lifted　the　mask。　She　came　back　from　a　long　way　away。

〃That　was　lovely；　darling。　Oh；　youre　so　good　to　me。〃

〃You　be　brave；　because　I　cant　do　that　all　the　time。　It　might　kill　you。〃

〃Im　not　brave　any　more；　darling。　Im　all　broken。　Theyve　broken　me。　I　know　it　now。〃