Chapter XVII

,andshebegantocrythetearsstealthilyglideddownhercheeks. “Comenearertome,Eddie,”shewhispered. Hekneltbesideher,suddenlytouched.Hetookherhand,andthecontacthadavivifyingeffectshedrewalongbreath,andherlipsformedaweary,wearysmile. “ThankGod,it’sover,”shegroaned,halfwhispering.“Oh,Eddie,darling,youcan’tthinkwhatI’vegonethrough.” “Well,it’sallovernow.” “Andyou’vebeenworryingtoo,Eddie.Itencouragedmetothinkthatyousharedmytrouble.Youmustgotosleepnow.ItwasgoodofyoutodrivetoTercanburyforme.” “Youmustn’ttalk,”saidDr.Ramsay,comingbackintotheroom,afterseeingthespecialistsentoff. “I’mbetternow,”saidBertha,“sinceI’veseenEddie.” “Well,youmustgotosleep.” “You’venottoldmeyetifit’saboyoragirltellme,Eddie,youknow.” Edwardlookeduneasilyatthedoctor. “It’saboy,”saidDr.Ramsay. “Iknewitwouldbe,”shemurmured.Anexpressionofecstaticpleasurecameintoherface,chasingawaythegraynessofdeath.“I’msoglad.Haveyouseenit,Eddie?” “Notyet.” “It’sourchild,isn’tit?It’sworthgoingthroughthepaintohaveababy.I’msohappy.” “Youmustgotosleepnow.” “I’mnotabitsleepy—andIwanttoseemyboy.” “No,youcan’tseehimnow,”saidDr.Ramsay,“he’sasleep,andyoumustn’tdisturbhim.” “Oh,Ishouldliketoseehim,justforoneminute.Youneedn’twakehim.” “Youshallseehimafteryou’vebeenasleep,”saidthedoctor,soothingly.“It’llexciteyoutoomuch.” “Well,yougoinandseehim,Eddie,andkisshim,andthenI’llgotosleep.” Sheseemedsoanxiousthatatleastitsfathershouldseehischild,thatthenurseledEdwardintothenextroom.Onachestofdrawerswaslyingsomethingcoveredwithatowel.Thisthenurselifted,andEdwardsawhischilditwasnakedandverysmall,hardlyhuman,repulsive,yetverypitiful.Theeyeswereclosed,thee