THEnursearrived,bringingnewapprehension.Shewasanoldwomanwho,fortwentyyears,hadhelpedtheneighbouringgentryintotheworldandshehadacopiousstoreofghastlyanecdote.Inhermouththeterrorsofbirthwereinnumerable,andshetoldherstorieswithacumulativeartthatwasappalling.Ofcourse,inhermind,sheactedforthebestBerthawasnervous,andthenursecouldimaginenobetterwayofreassuringherthantogivedetailedaccountsofpatientswhofordayshadbeenatdeath’sdoor,givenupbyallthedoctors,andyethadfinallyrecovered.
Bertha’squickinventionmagnifiedthecominganguishtill,forthinkingofit,shecouldhardlysleep.Theimpossibilityeventoconceiveitrendereditmoreformidableshesawbeforeheralong,longagony,andthendeath.ShecouldnotbearEdwardtobeoutofhersight.
“Why,ofcourseyou’llgetoverit,”hesaid.“Ipromiseyouit’snothingtomakeafussabout.”
Hehadbredanimalsforyearsandwasquiteusedtotheprocesswhichsuppliedhimwithveal,mutton,andbeef,forthelocalbutchers.Itwasaridiculousfussthathumanbeingsmadeoveranaturalandordinaryphenomenon.
“Oh,I’msoafraidofthepain.IfeelcertainthatIshan’tgetoverit—it’sawful.IwishIhadn’tgottogothroughit.”
“Goodheavens,”criedthedoctor,“onewouldthinknoonehadeverhadababybeforeyou.”
“Oh,don’tlaughatme.Can’tyouseehowfrightenedIam!IhaveapresentimentthatIshalldie.”
“Ineverknewawomanyet,”saidDr.Ramsay,“whohadn’tapresentimentthatshewoulddie,evenifshehadnothingworsethanafinger-achethematterwithher.”
“Oh,youcanlaugh,”saidBertha.“I’vegottogothroughit.”
Anotherdaypassed,andthenursesaidthedoctormustbeimmediatelysentfor.BerthahadmadeEdwardpromisetoremainwithherallthetime.
“IthinkIshallhavecourageifIcanholdyourhand,”shesaid.
“Nonsense,”saidDr.Ramsay,whenEdwardtoldhimthis,“I’mnotgoingtohaveamanmeddlingabout.”
“Ithoughtnot,”saidEdward,“butIjustpromised,tokeepherquiet.”