第42部分(第4/6 頁)

t　outside　in　the　hail。　Everything　was　gone　inside　of　me。　I　did　not　think。　I　could　not　think。　I　knew　she　was　going　to　die　and　I　prayed　that　she　would　not。　Don't　let　her　die。　Oh；　God；　please　don't　let　her　die。　I'll　do　anything　for　you　if　you　won't　let　her　die。　Please；　please；　please；　dear　God；　don't　let　her　die。　Dear　God；　don't　let　her　die。　Please；　please；　please　don't　let　her　die。　God　please　make　her　not　die。　I'll　do　anything　you　say　if　you　don't　let　her　die。　You　took　the　baby　but　don't　let　her　die。　That　was　all　right　but　don't　let　her　die。　Please；　please；　dear　God；　don't　let　her　die。

The　nurse　opened　the　door　and　motioned　with　her　finger　for　me　to　e。　I　followed　her　into　the　room。　Catherine　did　not　look　up　when　I　came　in。　I　went　over　to　the　side　of　the　bed。　The　doctor　was　standing　by　the　bed　on　the　opposite　side。　Catherine　looked　at　me　and　smiled。　I　bent　down　over　the　bed　and　started　to　cry。

〃Poor　darling；〃　Catherine　said　very　softly。　She　looked　gray。

〃You're　all　right；　Cat；〃　I　said。　〃You're　going　to　be　all　right。〃

〃I'm　going　to　die；〃　she　said；　then　waited　and　said；　〃I　hate　it。〃

I　took　her　hand。

〃Don't　touch　me；〃　she　said。　I　let　go　of　her　hand。　She　smiled。　〃Poor　darling。　You　touch　me　all　you　want。〃

〃You'll　be　all　right；　Cat。　I　know　you'll　be　all　right。〃

〃I　meant　to　write　you　a　letter　to　have　if　anything　happened；　but　I　didn't　do　it。〃

〃Do　you　want　me　to　get　a　priest　or　any　one　to　e　and　see　you？〃

〃Just　you；〃　s