Doctor Stauber said: "We have been speaking about the ... formalities. Frau Golowski will be kind enough to see to all that."
"Thank you," replied George and held out his hand to Frau Golowski.
"All that," he thought. A coffin, a funeral, a notification to the local registry; a son born of Anna Rosner, spinster, died on the same day. Nothing about the father of course. Yes, his part was finished. Only to-day? Had it not been finished the very second when quite by chance he became a father?
He looked at the table. The cloth was spread over the tiny corpse. Oh, how quick! he thought bitterly. Am I never to see it again? I suppose I may be allowed to, once. He drew the cloth a little away from the body and held it high up. He saw a pale child-face which was quite familiar to him, only since then some one had closed the eyes. The old grandfather's clock in the corner ticked. Six o'clock. Scarcely an hour had passed since his child had been born and died: the fact was already as indisputably certain as though it could never have been otherwise.
He felt a light touch on the shoulder.
"She took it quietly," said Doctor Stauber, standing behind him.
George dropped the cloth over the child's face and turned his head towards the side. "She already knows, then...?"
Doctor Stauber nodded. Frau Golowski had turned away.
"Who told her?" asked George.
"It wasn't necessary to tell her," replied Doctor Stauber, "was it?" He turned to Frau Golowski.