Pregnancy
212-279_84183
10/31/05
12:58 PM
Page 275
Anna Karenina that came from it. He let his head sink on to the wood of the bed; he felt his heart was breaking. The horrible screaming did not stop, it grew still more horrible, and then as though reaching the ultimate limit of horror it suddenly subsided. Levin could not believe his ears, but there would be no doubt of it: the screaming had subsided; a soft stirring was heard, a rustling hurried breathing, and her voice, faltering, alive, tender and happy, said softly: “It’s finished.” He lifted his head. Her arms nervelessly outstretched on the quilt, usually lovely and still, she lay there speechless, looking at him, trying to smile but unable to. And suddenly, from that mysterious, horrible and unearthly world he had been living in for the last twenty-two hours, Levin felt instantaneously transported to the former, everyday world, but now radiant with a new light of such joy that he could not bear it. The taut strings snapped. Sobs and tears of joy he had not in the least anticipated rose up within him with such force that they shook his whole body and for a long time prevented him from speaking. Falling on his knees by the bed, he held his wife’s hand to his lips and kissed it; the hand responded with a feeble movement of the fingers. Meanwhile, there at the foot of the bed, in the skillful hands of Miss Mary there flickered, like the small flame of a night lamp, the life of a human being who had never existed before, and who now,
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Job: 05-47076 Title: Little Big Book Of Pregnancy 150#B Dtp: 36 Page: 274-275