"What do you mean?" asked Kitty anxiously.
"It is quite evident.
Did the possibility of such a thing never occur to you?
You are with child, my dear."
The start that Kitty gave shook her from head to foot, and she put her feet to the ground as though to spring up.
"Lie still, lie still," said the Mother Superior.
Kitty felt herself blush furiously and she put her hands to her breasts.
"It's impossible.
It isn't true."
"Qu'est-ce qu'elle dit?" asked Sister St Joseph.
The Mother Superior translated.
Sister St Joseph's broad simple face, with its red cheeks, was beaming.
"No mistake is possible.
I give you my word of honour."
"How long have you been married, my child?" asked the Mother Superior. "Why, when my sister-in-law had been married as long as you she had already two babies."
Kitty sank back into the chair.
There was death in her heart.
"I'm so ashamed," she whispered.
"Because you are going to have a baby?
Why, what can be more natural?"
"Quelle joie pour le docteur," said Sister St Joseph.
"Yes, think what a happiness for your husband.
He will be overwhelmed with joy.
You have only to see him with babies, and the look on his face when he plays with them, to see how enchanted he will be to have one of his own."
For a little while Kitty was silent.
The two nuns looked at her with tender interest and the Mother, Superior stroked her hand.
"It was silly of me not to have suspected it before." said Kitty. "At all events I'm glad it's not cholera.
I feel very much better. I will get back to my work."
"Not to-day, my dear child. You have had a shock, you had much better go home and rest yourself."
"No, no, I would much rather stay and work."
"I insist.
What would our good doctor say if I let you be imprudent?
Come to-morrow, if you like, or the day after, but to-day you must be quiet.
I will send for a chair.
Would you like me to let one of our young girls go with you?"
"Oh, no, I shall be all right alone."
LVI
KITTY was lying on her bed and the shutters were closed.
It was after luncheon and the servants slept.
What she had learnt that morning (and now she was certain that it was true) filled her with consternation.
Ever since she came home she had been trying to think; but her mind was a blank, and she could not collect her thoughts.
Suddenly she heard a step, the feet were booted so that it could not be one of the boys; with a gasp of apprehension she realized that it could only be her husband.
He was in the sitting-room and she heard herself called. She did not reply.
There was a moment's silence and then a knock on her door.
"Yes?"
"May I come in?"
Kitty rose from her bed and slipped into a dressing-gown.
"Yes."
He entered.
She was glad that the closed shutters shadowed her face.