“Childbirth, bearing a child!”

“You⁠ ⁠… are not mistaken?”

“Oh, no, no, she is in agonies! I want a woman, any old woman, I must have one at once.⁠ ⁠… Can you get one now? You used to have a lot of old women.⁠ ⁠…”

“Very sorry that I am no good at childbearing,” Kirillov answered thoughtfully; “that is, not at childbearing, but at doing anything for childbearing⁠ ⁠… or⁠ ⁠… no, I don’t know how to say it.”

“You mean you can’t assist at a confinement yourself? But that’s not what I’ve come for. An old woman, I want a woman, a nurse, a servant!”

“You shall have an old woman, but not directly, perhaps⁠ ⁠… If you like I’ll come instead.⁠ ⁠…”

“Oh, impossible; I am running to Madame Virginsky, the midwife, now.”

“A horrid woman!”