Ben had never met a female doctor before. For a split second he considered asking about her qualifications. But he stopped himself. There was no time to find a different doctor anyway. For all he knew, Alice was not just losing the baby but her own life as well, and he was mad with despair. And so he followed the doctor, wishing he could push the wheelchair or do anything to feel less useless.

Alice sat hunched in the chair, clutching her belly. Her eyes were closed. And so Ben was glad that the doctor addressed him instead. "About twenty-five weeks," he replied. "She's not been eating well for her state, and been very tired. The doctor said she suffers from poor nerves. Hysteria or sum't."