She sank back and lay tossing from side to side, moaning; and meantime the doctor went quietly on, arranging his basins and bottles, and giving his orders. Then finally he came and made his examination.
“She is doing very well,” he said, “and now, Miss Mary, I have an engagement for the theatre for this evening. I think there will be no need of me for some hours.”
Thyrsis started, aghast. “Doctor!” he cried.
“What is it?” asked the other.
“Something might happen!” he exclaimed.
“I shall be only two or three blocks away,” was the reply—“They will send for me ifthere is need.”
“But this pain!” cried Thyrsis, excitedly. “What is she to do?”
The man stood by the bedside, washing his hands. “You cannot have a child-birth without pain,” he said. “These are merely false pains, as we call t
