"OF HUMAN BONDAGE" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maugham W. Somerset)

comfortably. He was very happy in the large, warm bed, with
those soft arms about him. He tried to make himself smaller
still as he cuddled up against his mother, and he kissed her
sleepily. In a moment he closed his eyes and was fast asleep.
The doctor came forwards and stood by the bed-side.

"Oh, don't take him away yet," she moaned.

The doctor, without answering, looked at her gravely. Knowing
she would not be allowed to keep the child much longer, the
woman kissed him again; and she passed her hand down his body
till she came to his feet; she held the right foot in her hand
and felt the five small toes; and then slowly passed her hand
over the left one. She gave a sob.

"What's the matter?" said the doctor. "You're tired."

She shook her head, unable to speak, and the tears rolled down
her cheeks. The doctor bent down.

"Let me take him."

She was too weak to resist his wish, and she gave the child up.
The doctor handed him back to his nurse.

"You'd better put him back in his own bed."

"Very well, sir." The little boy, still sleeping, was taken
away. His mother sobbed now broken-heartedly.

"What will happen to him, poor child?"

The monthly nurse tried to quiet her, and presently, from
exhaustion, the crying ceased. The doctor walked to a table on
the other side of the room, upon which, under a towel, lay the
body of a still-born child. He lifted the towel and looked. He
was hidden from the bed by a screen, but the woman guessed what
he was doing.

"Was it a girl or a boy?" she whispered to the nurse.

"Another boy."

The woman did not answer. In a moment the child's nurse came
back. She approached the bed.

"Master Philip never woke up," she said. There was a pause. Then
the doctor felt his patient's pulse once more.

"I don't think there's anything I can do just now," he said.