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 slightest degree of comfort any way she might turn. The pain had slowly spread to her back. Indeed it was most intense there.

"I'll look at you again," said Miss Harris.

Dot could barely lie still long enough for the glance Miss Harris took.

Miss Harris departed and returned with Miss Brown. Together they examined Dot.

"I think you ought to wake her doctor," said Miss Brown.

"Well," said Miss Harris, "you know she's an awful lot more comfortable here than she'll be if she has to lie an hour on the delivery table."

"She won't lie an hour," said Miss Brown.

"I don't know," said Miss Harris. "The doctors get mad if you wake them too soon."

"They get mad if they haven't time to prepare properly, too," the other nurse reminded her.

In the end Miss Harris went to call Dr. Stewart, and Dot was glad. It seemed important to her that she get to the operating-table. Surely it would be over soon if they would take her to the delivery room.

Miss Brown got her out of bed. She put the bedroom slippers on Dot's feet and fastened a strong arm under her. The descent to the delivery room had to be made between pains. It was impossible to move in the middle of one. On the sixth step, Dot stuck the back of her hand in her mouth and bit till Miss Brown ordered her sharply to stop. She wanted to sit down, but the nurse wouldn't let her.

"You aren't noisy," said Miss Brown, "but you think of lots of other ways to be a nuisance." She was smiling when she said it and meant no harm, but it would have made no difference to Dot had she scowled and sworn.

In the operating-room, Dot's kimono, slippers, and