e　was　still　in　the　delivery　room。　The　pains　had　slackened　again。　She　looked　very　tired　and　worn　now　but　she　was　still　cheerful。

〃I'm　not　any　good；　darling；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　so　sorry。　I　thought　I　would　do　it　very　easily。　Now……there's　one……〃　she　reached　out　her　hand　for　the　mask　and　held　it　over　her　face。　The　doctor　moved　the　dial　and　watched　her。　In　a　little　while　it　was　over。

〃It　wasn't　much；〃　Catherine　said。　She　smiled。　〃I'm　a　fool　about　the　gas。　It's　wonderful。〃

〃We'll　get　some　for　the　home；〃　I　said。

〃There　one　es；〃　Catherine　said　quickly。　The　doctor　turned　the　dial　and　looked　at　his　watch。

〃What　is　the　interval　now？〃　I　asked。

〃About　a　minute。〃

〃Don't　you　want　lunch？〃

〃I　will　have　something　pretty　soon；〃　he　said。

〃You　must　have　something　to　eat；　doctor；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I'm　so　sorry　I　go　on　so　long。　Couldn't　my　husband　give　me　the　gas？〃

〃If　you　wish；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃You　turn　it　to　the　numeral　two。〃

〃I　see；〃　I　said。　There　was　a　marker　on　a　dial　that　turned　with　a　handle。

〃I　want　it　now；〃　Catherine　said。　She　held　the　mask　tight　to　her　face。　I　turned　the　dial　to　number　two　and　when　Catherine　put　down　the　mask　I　turned　it　off。　It　was　very　good　of　the　doctor　to　let　me　do　something。

〃Did　you　do　it；　darling？〃　Catherine　asked。　She　stroked　my　wrist。

〃Sure。〃

〃You're　so　lovely。〃　She　was　a　little　drunk　from　the　gas。

〃I　will　eat　from　a　tray　in　the　next　room；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃You　can　call　me　any　moment。〃　While　the　time　passed　I　watched　him　eat；　then；　after　a　while；　I　saw　that　he　was　lying　down　and　smoking　a　cigarette。　Catherine　was　getting　very　tired。

〃Do　you　think　I'll　ever　have　this　baby？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；　of　course　you　will。〃

〃I　try　as　hard　as