〃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。

〃I'm　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。

〃Where's　the　doctor？〃　I　asked　the　woman。

〃He's　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。　〃I'm　fine；　really。〃

〃I'll　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　thi