e sofa outside her door.

One night he thought he heard a sound, and, opening it softly, he looked
in. She was crying out aloud, as if she and her pain were alone in the
world. The light fell on the red quilt, and the little hands that were
clasped over the head. The wide-open eyes were looking up, and the heavy
drops fell slowly from them.

"I cannot bear any more, not any more," she said in a deep voice. "Oh,
God, God! have I not borne in silence? Have I not endured these long,
long months? But now, now, oh, God, I cannot!"

Gregory knelt in the doorway listening.

"I do not ask for wisdom, not human love, not work, not knowledge, not
for all things I have longed for," she cried; "only a little freedom
from pain! Only one little hour without pain! Then I will suffer again."

She sat up, and bit the little hand Gregory loved.

He crept away to the front door, and stood looking out at the quiet
starlight. When he came back she was lying in her usual posture, the
quiet eyes looking at the lion's claw. He came close to the bed.

"You have much pain tonight?" he asked her.

"No, not much."

"Can I do anything for you?"

"No, nothing."

She still drew her lips together, and motioned with her fingers toward
the dog who lay sleeping at her feet. Gregory lifted him and laid him at
her side. She made Gregory turn open the bosom of her nightdress, that
the dog might put his black muzzle between her breasts. She crossed her
arms over him. Gregory left them lying there together.

Next day, when they asked her how she was, she answered "Better."

"Some one ought to tell her," said the landlady; "we can't let her soul
go out into eternity not knowing, especially when I don't think it was
all right about the child. You ought to go and tell her, doctor."

So, the little doctor, edged on and on, went in at last. When he came
out of the room he shook his fist in the landlady's face.

"The next time you have any devil's work to do, do it yourself," he
said, and he shook his fist in her face again, and went away swearing.

When Gregory went into the bedroom he only found her moved, her body
curled up, and drawn close to the wall. He dared not disturb her. At
last, after a long time, she turned.

"Bring me food," she said, "I want to eat. Two eggs, and toast, and
meat--two large slices of toast, please."

Wondering, Gregory brought a tray with all that she had asked for.

"Sit me up, and put it close to me," she said;