Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона / The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

He hoped it would be a boy[1 - He hoped it would be a boy—Он надеялся, это будет мальчик] so that he could be sent to Yale College in Connecticut, the institution to which Mr. Button himself had been once sent.

On that September morning he got up at six o’clock, dressed himself, and hurried to the hospital. When he was approximately a hundred yards from the Maryland Private Hospital for Ladies and Gentlemen he saw Doctor Keene, the family physician, descending the front steps, rubbing his hands together as all doctors do by the unwritten ethics of their profession.

Mr. Roger Button, the president of Roger Button & Co., Wholesale Hardware, began to run toward Doctor Keene. “Doctor Keene!” he called.

The doctor heard him, turned around, and stood waiting, with a curious expression on his harsh, medicinal face.

“What happened?” demanded Mr. Button, as he came up in a rush. “How is she? A boy? Who is it?” Doctor Keene seemed somewhat irritated.

“Is the child born?” begged Mr.

Doctor Keene frowned. “Why, yes, I suppose so…”

“Is my wife all right?”

“Yes.”

“Is it a boy or a girl?”

“I’ll ask you to go and see for yourself!” Then he turned away muttering: “Do you imagine a case like this will help my professional reputation? One more would ruin me—ruin anybody.”

“What’s the matter? Triplets?[2 - What’s the matter? Triplets?—В чем дело? Тройня?]” “No, not triplets! You can go and see for yourself.

Without another word he climbed into his carriage and drove away.

Mr. Button stood there trembling from head to foot[3 - trembling from head to foot—дрожа от головы до ног]. He had suddenly lost all desire to go into the Maryland Private Hospital for Ladies and Gentlemen—it was with the greatest difficulty that, a moment later, he forced himself to mount the steps and enter the front door.

A nurse was sitting behind a desk in the hall. Swallowing his shame, Mr. Button approached her.

“Good-morning. I—I am Mr. Button.”

A look of terror spread over the girl’s face.

“I want to see my child,” said Mr. Button.

The nurse gave a little scream. “Oh—of course!” she cried hysterically. “Upstairs. Right upstairs. Go up!”

She pointed the direction, and Mr.