第40部分(第2/8 頁)

ery　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　won't　miss　you。　Nurse　is　splendid　to　me。〃

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

〃I'll　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。

〃There's　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　yesterday's。　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。

〃W