第37部分(第5/7 頁)

。　〃Look。　Let's　go　some　place　and　have　beer　instead　of　tea。　It's　very　good　for　young　Catherine。　It　keeps　her　small。〃

〃Young　Catherine；〃　I　said。　〃That　loafer。〃

〃She's　been　very　good；〃　Catherine　said。　〃She　makes　very　little　trouble。　The　doctor　says　beer　will　be　good　for　me　and　keep　her　small。〃

〃If　you　keep　her　small　enough　and　she's　a　boy；　maybe　he　will　be　a　jockey。〃

〃I　suppose　if　we　really　have　this　child　we　ought　to　get　married；〃　Catherine　said。　We　were　in　the　beer　place　at　the　corner　table。　It　was　getting　dark　outside。　It　was　still　early　but　the　day　was　dark　and　the　dusk　was　ing　early。

〃Let's　get　married　now；〃　I　said。

〃No；〃　Catherine　said。　〃It's　too　embarrassing　now。　I　show　too　plainly。　I　won't　go　before　any　one　and　be　married　in　this　state。〃

〃I　wish　we'd　gotten　married。〃

〃I　suppose　it　would　have　been　better。　But　when　could　we；　darling？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃I　know　one　thing。　I'm　not　going　to　be　married　in　this　splendid　matronly　state。〃

〃You're　not　matronly。〃

〃Oh　yes；　I　am；　darling。　The　hairdresser　asked　me　if　this　was　our　first。　I　lied　and　said　no；　we　had　two　boys　and　two　girls。〃

〃When　will　we　be　married？〃

〃Any　time　after　I'm　thin　again。　We　want　to　have　a　splendid　wedding　with　every　one　thinking　what　a　handsome　young　couple。〃

〃And　you're　not　worried？〃

〃Darling；　why　should　I　be　worried？　The　only　time　I　ever　felt　badly　was　when　I　felt　like　a　whore　in　Milan　and　that　only　lasted　seven　minutes　and　besides　it　was　the　room　furnishings。　Don't　I　make　you　a　good　wife？〃

〃You're　a　lovely　wife。〃

〃Then　don't　be　too　technical；　darling。　I'll　marry　you　as　soon　as　I'm　thin　again。〃

〃All　right。〃

〃Do　you　think　I　ought　to　drink　another　beer？　The　doctor　said