第39部分(第3/7 頁)

treet；　which　sloped　steeply；　was　another　hotel　with　a　similar　wall　and　garden。　I　looked　out　at　the　rain　falling　in　the　fountain　of　the　garden。

Catherine　turned　on　all　the　lights　and　menced　unpacking。　I　ordered　a　whiskey　and　soda　and　lay　on　the　bed　and　read　the　papers　I　had　bought　at　the　station。　It　was　March；　1918；　and　the　German　offensive　had　started　in　France。　I　drank　the　whiskey　and　soda　and　read　while　Catherine　unpacked　and　moved　around　the　room。

〃You　know　what　I　have　to　get；　darling；〃　she　said。

〃What？〃

〃Baby　clothes。　There　aren't　many　people　reach　my　time　without　baby　things。〃

〃You　can　buy　them。〃

〃I　know。　That's　what　I'll　do　to…morrow。　I'll　find　out　what　is　necessary。〃

〃You　ought　to　know。　You　were　a　nurse。〃

〃But　so　few　of　the　soldiers　had　babies　in　the　hospitals。〃

〃I　did。〃

She　hit　me　with　the　pillow　and　spilled　the　whiskey　and　soda。

〃I'll　order　you　another；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　sorry　I　spilled　it。〃

〃There　wasn't　much　left。　e　on　over　to　the　bed。〃

〃No。　I　have　to　try　and　make　this　room　look　like　something。〃

〃Like　what？〃

〃Like　our　home。〃

〃Hang　out　the　Allied　flags。〃

〃Oh　shut　up。〃

〃Say　it　again。〃

〃Shut　up。〃

〃You　say　it　so　cautiously；〃　I　said。　〃As　though　you　didn't　want　to　offend　any　one。〃

〃I　don't。〃

〃Then　e　over　to　the　bed。〃

〃All　right。〃　She　came　and　sat　on　the　bed。　〃I　know　I'm　no　fun　for　you；　darling。　I'm　like　a　big　flour…barrel。〃

〃No　you're　not。　You're　beautiful　and　you're　sweet。〃

〃I'm　just　something　very　ungainly　that　you've　married。〃

〃No　you're　not。　You're　more　beautiful　all　the　time。〃

〃But　I　will　be　thin　again；　darling。〃

〃You're　thin　now。〃

〃You've　been　drinking。〃