Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона

           "No,nottriplets!"answeredthedoctorcuttingly."What’smore,youcangoandseeforyourself.Andgetanotherdoctor.Ibroughtyouintotheworld,youngman,andI’vebeenphysiciantoyourfamilyforfortyyears,butI’mthroughwithyou!Idon’twanttoseeyouoranyofyourrelativeseveragain!Good-bye!"

           Thenheturnedsharply,andwithoutanotherwordclimbedintohisphaeton,whichwaswaitingatthecurbstone,anddroveseverelyaway.

           Mr.Buttonstoodthereuponthesidewalk,stupefiedandtremblingfromheadtofoot.Whathorriblemishaphadoccurred?HehadsuddenlylostalldesiretogointotheMarylandPrivateHospitalforLadiesandGentlemen—itwaswiththegreatestdifficultythat,amomentlater,heforcedhimselftomountthestepsandenterthefrontdoor.

           Anursewassittingbehindadeskintheopaquegloomofthehall.Swallowinghisshame,Mr.Buttonapproachedher.

           "Good-morning,"sheremarked,lookingupathimpleasantly.

           "Good-morning.I—IamMr.Button."

           Atthisalookofutterterrorspreaditselfovergirl’sface.Sherosetoherfeetandseemedabouttoflyfromthehall,restrainingherselfonlywiththemostapparentdifficulty.

           "Iwanttoseemychild,"saidMr.Button.

           Thenursegavealittlescream."Oh—ofcourse!"shecriedhysterically."Upstairs.Rightupstairs.Go—up!"