LITMIR.BIZ

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the case with me. I was as slender as a thread when I was twenty, and very agile, but I grew fat and scant of breath, and became rather heavy in my steps; so when my mother died, as I had my diploma as a midwife, I took her apartment and her business, and I added the title of "Midwife to the Opera," for all their business comes to me. They like me very much there. When I was dancing, they used to call me Mademoiselle Flacchi the premi?re.

      LA BABIN

      Then you have been married since then?

      MME. FLACHE

      No, but a woman in my profession should always assume the title of Madame for the sake of its dignity. You know, it gives confidence. But, how about you, nurse, from what place do you come? You know, you have only just come here, and nobody consulted me about engaging you.

      LA BABIN

      I am from Yvetot.

      MME. FLACHE

      Is this your first engagement as a nurse?

      LA BABIN

      No, my third. I have had two daughters and a little boy.

      MME. FLACHE

      And your husband, is he a farmer or a gardener?

      LA BABIN [_Simply_]

      I am not married.

      MME. FLACHE [_laughing_]

      Not married, and with three children! Upon my word, let me compliment you; you are indeed precocious.

      LA BABIN

      Don't talk about it; it was not my will. It is the good God who does these things. One cannot prevent it.

      MME. FLACHE

      How simple you are! Now you will probably have a fourth child.

      LA BABIN

      That's very possible.

      MME. FLACHE

      Well, what does your lover do? What is his business? Or perhaps you have more than one?

      LA BABIN [_with indignation_]

      There has never been more than one. I give you my word, upon my hope of salvation. He is a lemonade-seller at Yvetot.

      MME. FLACHE

      Is he a handsome fellow?

      LA BABIN

      I believe you, indeed! He is handsome! [_Confidentially_.] If I tell you all this, it is only because you are a midwife, and a midwife in such affairs as this is like a priest in the confessional. But you, Madame Flache, you, who have been a dancer at the Opera, you must also have had, surely--little love affairs--little intrigues?

      MME. FLACHE [_evidently flattered, and in a dreamy tone_]

      Oh, yes, one or two!

      LA BABIN [_laughs_]

      And have you never had--this sort of accident? [_Points to the cradle_.]

      MME. FLACHE

      No.

      LA BABIN

      How did that come?

      MME. FLACHE [_rises and approaches the mantelpiece_]

      Probably because I was a midwife.

      LA BABIN

      Well, I know one in your profession who has had five.

      MME. FLACHE [_with contempt_]

      She evidently did not come from Paris.

      LA BABIN

      That's true; she came from Courbevoie.

      MUSOTTE [_in a feeble voice_] Is no one there?

      MME. FLACHE

      She is awakening. There, there! [_Folds up the screen which hides the long steamer-chair_.]

      MUSOTTE

      Hasn't he come yet?

      MME. FLACHE

      No.

      MUSOTTE

      He will arrive too late--my God! My God!

      MME. FLACHE

      What an idea! He will come.

      MUSOTTE

      And my little darling--my child?

      MME. FLACHE

      He is sleeping like an angel.

      MUSOTTE [_after looking at herself in a hand-mirror_]

      I must not look like this when he comes. Oh, God! Bring my child--I want to see him.

      MME. FLACHE

      But if I show him to you he will wake up, and who knows if he will go to sleep again.

      MUSOTTE

      Bring the cradle here. [_A gesture of refusal from_ Mme Flache.] Yes, yes! I insist, [Mme. Flache _and the nurse gently bring the cradle to her_.] Nearer, nearer, so that I can see him well--the darling! My child, my child! And I am going to leave him! Soon I shall disappear into the unknown. Oh. God, what agony!

      MME. FLACHE

      Now don't go worrying yourself like that; you are not as ill as you think. I have seen lots worse than you. Come, come! you are going to recover. Take away the cradle, nurse. [_They put the cradle again in its place; then to the nurse_.] That will do, that will do. Watch me. You know very well that it is only I who can quiet it. [_Sits near the cradle, and sings a lullaby while rocking it_.]

      "A little gray fowl Came into the barn, To lay a big egg For the good boy that sleeps. Go to sleep, go to sleep, My little chicken! Go to sleep, sleep, my chick!"

      LA BABIN [_stands near the end of the mantelpiece, drinks the sugared water, and slips loaf sugar into her pocket; aside_]

      I must not forget the main thing. I have just seen in the kitchen the remains of a leg of mutton, to which I should like to go and say a few words. I am breaking in two with hunger just now.

      MME. FLACHE [_sings softly_]

      "A little black fowl Came into the room, To lay a big egg For the good boy that sleeps. Sleep, sleep, my little chicken, Sleep, oh, sleep, my chick!"

      MUSOTTE [_from the long chair, after moaning several times_]

      Has he gone to sleep again?

      MME. FLACHE [_goes toward_ Musotte]

      Yes, Mademoiselle, just as if he were a little Jesus. Do you wish to know what I think about him, this young man lying here? You will lead him to the altar for his marriage. He is a jewel, like yourself, my dear.

      MUSOTTE

      Do you really think him pretty?

      MME. FLACHE

      On the honor of a midwife, I have seldom brought into the world one so pretty. It is a pleasure to know that one has brought to the light such a little Cupid as he is.

      MUSOTTE

      And to think that in a few hours, perhaps, I shall see him no more; look at him no more; love him no more!

      MME. FLACHE

      Oh, no, no! You are talking unreasonably.

      MUSOTTE

      Ah, I know it too well! I heard you talking with the nurse. I know that the end is very near; this night, perhaps. Would the doctor have written to Jean to come and see me on this evening--the evening of his marriage--if

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