She was thinking that she, too, held within her such travail and such cries.
This lasted the whole day.

For hours, from morning until evening, I heard the heart-rending wail rising and falling from that pitiful double being.
At certain moments I fell back, overcome.

I could no longer look or listen.

I renounced seeing so much truth.

Then once more, with an effort, I stood up against the wall and looked into the Room again.
Anna kissed the woman on her forehead, in brave proximity to the immense cry.
When the cry was articulate, it was: "No, no! I do not want to!" Serious, sickened faces, almost grown old in a few hours with fatigue, passed and repassed.
I heard some one say: "No need to help it along.