Page:Bad Girl (1929).pdf/219

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against the basin and sponged herself and got into bed.

Eddie read a story to her out of a magazine. But Dot preferred to read to herself. When Eddie read you couldn't tell whether the people in the story were saying things pleasantly or angrily. You could kind of judge for yourself if you were reading it.

Dr. Stewart's visit was made before noon next day. He passed no comment on any discovery he might have made, and Dot was afraid to question. He removed his work of the previous day and smiled at Dot pleasantly.

"Pretty warm today," he remarked.

"Don't speak of it," Dot said. "I'm nearly dead with it."

"Oh, Mrs. Collins, by the way," said Dr. Stewart as he was leaving, "how far does Mr. Collins have to go to get to a phone?"

"There's a drug store on the corner across the street," said Dot.

Dr. Stewart looked worried. "Suppose the store is closed?" he said. "Suppose it's three a.m.?"

Dot smiled comfortingly. "Eddie will wake every family in this house till he finds one that has a phone," she answered.

Dr. Stewart laughed and picked up his bag. "Well, good-by, Mrs. Collins. Don't worry. You'll get there."

Edna missed the doctor by five minutes. She ran up the stairs and rang the bell like a person who is sure she has come too late.

She looked at Dot unbelievingly. "Oh," she laughed a little in her relief, "I had the funniest dream last night."

"What did you dream?" asked Dot.

"Why—I dreamed that—that you weren't pregnant at all; so I had to get here early to reassure myself."

Dot said nothing. She knew that this was not what Edna had dreamed.

Edna stayed all day and signified her intention of re-