Chapter XVII

dhewasunabletoimaginethefuture.Amoreemotionalmanwouldhavebeenwhitewithfear,hisheartbeatingpainfullyandhisnervesquiveringwithahundredanticipatedterrors.HewouldhavebeenquiteuselesswhileEdwardwasfitforanyemergency—hecouldhavebeentrustedtodriveanothertenmilesinsearchofsomeappliance,and,withperfectsteadiness,tohelpinanynecessaryoperation. “Youknow,”hesaidtoDr.Ramsay,“Idon’twanttogetinyourwaybutifIshouldbeanyuseintheroom,youcantrustmenottogetflurried.” “Idon’tthinkthere’sanythingyoucandothenurseisverytrustworthyandcapable.” “Women,”saidEdward,“getsoexcitedtheyalwaysmakefoolsofthemselvesiftheypossiblycan.” ButthenightairhadmadeCraddocksleepy,andafterhalf-an-hourinthechair,tryingtoreadabook,hedozedoff.Presently,however,heawoke,andthefirstlightofdayfilledtheroomwithagraycoldness.Helookedathiswatch. “ByJove,it’salongjob,”hesaid. Therewasaknockatthedoor,andthenursecamein. “Willyoupleasecome.” Dr.Ramsaymethiminthepassage.“ThankGod,it’sover.She’shadaterribletime.” “Issheallright?” “Ithinkshe’sinnodangernow—butI’msorrytosaywecouldn’tsavethechild.” ApangwentthroughEdward’sheart.“Isitdead?” “Itwasstill-born.Iwasafraiditwashopeless.You’dbettergotoBerthanow—shewantsyou.Shedoesn’tknowaboutthechild.” Berthawaslyinginanattitudeofcompleteexhaustion:shelayonherback,witharmsstretchedinutterweaknessbyhersides.Herfacewasgraywithpastanguish,hereyesdullandlifeless,halfclosedandherjawhungalmostashangsthejawofacorpse.ShetriedtoformasmileasshesawEdward,butinherfeeblenessthelipsscarcelymoved. “Don’ttrytospeak,dear,”saidthenurse,seeingthatBerthawasattemptingwords. Edwardbentdownandkissedher,thefaintestblushcolouredhercheeks