波波小说

第40部分（第1页）

〃You　can　e　in　now；〃　the　woman　said　from　the　doorway。　Catherine　was　lying　in　the　narrow　bed　wearing　a　plain；　square…cut　night…gown　that　looked　as　though　it　were　made　of　rough　sheeting。　She　smiled　at　me。

〃Im　having　fine　pains　now；〃　she　said。　The　woman　was　holding　her　wrist　and　timing　the　pains　with　a　watch。

〃That　was　a　big　one；〃　Catherine　said。　I　saw　it　on　her　face。

〃Wheres　the　doctor？〃　I　asked　the　woman。

〃Hes　lying　down　sleeping。　He　will　be　here　when　he　is　needed。〃

〃I　must　do　something　for　Madame；　now；〃　the　nurse　said。　〃Would　you　please　step　out　again？〃

I　went　out　into　the　hall。　It　was　a　bare　hall　with　two　windows　and　closed　doors　all　down　the　corridor。　It　smelled　of　hospital。　I　sat　on　the　chair　and　looked　at　the　floor　and　prayed　for　Catherine。

〃You　can　e　in；〃　the　nurse　said。　I　went　in。

〃Hello；　darling；〃　Catherine　said。

〃How　is　it？〃

〃They　are　ing　quite　often　now。〃　Her　face　drew　up。　Then　she　smiled。

〃That　was　a　real　one。　Do　you　want　to　put　your　hand　on　my　back　again；　nurse？〃

〃If　it　helps　you；〃　the　nurse　said。

〃You　go　away；　darling；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Go　out　and　get　something　to　eat。　I　may　do　this　for　a　long　time　the　nurse　says。〃

〃The　first　labor　is　usually　protracted；〃　the　nurse　said。

〃Please　go　out　and　get　something　to　eat；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Im　fine；　really。〃

〃Ill　stay　awhile；〃　I　said。

The　pains　came　quite　regularly；　then　slackened　off。　Catherine　was　very　excited。　When　the　pains　were　bad　she　called　them　good　ones。　When　they　started　to　fall　off　she　was　disappointed　and　ashamed。

〃You　go　out；　darling；〃　she　said。　〃I　think　you　are　just　making　me　self…conscious。〃　Her　face　tied　up。　〃There。　That　was　better。　I　so　want　to　be　a　good　wife　and　have　this　child　without　any　foolishness。　Please　go　and　get　some　breakfast；　darling；　and　then　e　back。　I　wont　miss　you。　Nurse　is　splendid　to　me。〃

〃You　have　plenty　of　time　for　breakfast；〃　the　nurse　said。

〃Ill　go　then。　Good…by；　sweet。〃

〃Good…by；〃　Catherine　said；　〃and　have　a　fine　breakfast　for　me　too。〃

〃Where　can　I　get　breakfast？〃　I　asked　the　nurse。

〃Theres　a　caf？down　the　street　at　the　square；〃　she　said。　〃It　should　be　open　now。〃

Outside　it　was　getting　light。　I　walked　down　the　empty　street　to　the　caf？　There　was　a　light　in　the　window。　I　went　in　and　stood　at　the　zinc　bar　and　an　old　man　served　me　a　glass　of　white　wine　and　a　brioche。　The　brioche　was　yesterdays。　I　dipped　it　in　the　wine　and　then　drank　a　glass　of　coffee。

〃What　do　you　do　at　this　hour？〃　the　old　man　asked。

〃My　wife　is　in　labor　at　the　hospital。〃

〃So。　I　wish　you　good　luck。〃

〃Give　me　another　glass　of　wine。〃

He　poured　it　from　the　bottle　slopping　it　over　a　little　so　some　ran　down　on　the　zinc。　I　drank　this　glass；　paid　and　went　out。　Outside　along　the　street　were　the　refuse　cans　from　the　houses　waiting　for　the　collector。　A　dog　was　nosing　at　one　of　the　cans。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　I　asked　and　looked　in　the　can　to　see　if　there　was　anything　I　could　pull　out　for　him；　there　was　nothing　on　top　but　coffee…grounds；　dust　and　some　dead　flowers。

〃There　isnt　anything；　dog；〃　I　said。　The　dog　crossed　the　street。　I　went　up　the　stairs　in　the　hospital　to　the　floor　Catherine　was　on　and　down　the　hall　to　her　room。　I　knocked　on　the　door。　There　was　no　answer。　I　opened　the　door；　the　room　was　empty；　except　for　Catherines　bag　on　a　chair　and　her　dressing…gown　hanging　on　a　hook　on　the　wall。　I　went　out　and　down　the　hall；　looking　for　somebody。　I　found　a　nurse。

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