Buteau had grown gloomy. Then, after a final struggle with himself, he got out the cart without saying a word.
La Frimat, who affected to pay no further heed to the cow since the veterinary had again been mentioned, was now getting anxious about Lise. The old woman was also good at accouchements; all the neighbourhood had passed through her hands. She seemed uneasy, and did not conceal her apprehensions from La Bécu, who called Buteau back as he was putting the horse to.
"Look here! Your wife's not well. Suppose you bring back a doctor at the same time?"
He stood mute and staring. What? Another of 'em to be coddled! Not likely that he was going to pay for everybody!
"No, no!" cried Lise, in an interval between two throes. "I shall be all right. We can't be throwing money into the gutter like that!"
Buteau hastily whipped up his horse, and the cart on its way to Cloyes vanished amid the falling shades of night.
When Patoir at last arrived, two hours later, everything was in the same state: La Coliche lay groaning on her side, and Lise, writhing like a worm, was half falling off her chair. Things had lasted thus for twenty-four hours.
"Which is my patient, hey?" asked the veterinary, who was of a jovial disposition.
And addressing Lise familiarly: