第38部分(第1/7 頁)

〃No。　I　feel　splendid。〃

〃It　isn't　a　long　ride。〃

〃I　like　the　ride；〃　she　said。　〃Don't　worry　about　me；　darling。　I　feel　fine。〃

Snow　did　not　e　until　three　days　before　Christmas。　We　woke　one　morning　and　it　was　snowing。　We　stayed　in　bed　with　the　fire　roaring　in　the　stove　and　watched　the　snow　fall。　Mrs。　Guttingen　took　away　the　breakfast　trays　and　put　more　wood　in　the　stove。　It　was　a　big　snow　storm。　She　said　it　had　started　about　midnight。　I　went　to　the　window　and　looked　out　but　could　not　see　across　the　road。　It　was　blowing　and　snowing　wildly。　I　went　back　to　bed　and　we　lay　and　talked。

〃I　wish　I　could　ski；〃　Catherine　said。　〃It's　rotten　not　to　be　able　to　ski。〃

〃We'll　get　a　bobsled　and　e　down　the　road。　That's　no　worse　for　you　than　riding　in　a　car。〃

〃Won't　it　be　rough？〃

〃We　can　see。〃

〃I　hope　it　won't　be　too　rough。〃

〃After　a　while　we'll　take　a　walk　in　the　snow。〃

〃Before　lunch；〃　Catherine　said；　〃so　we'll　have　a　good　appetite。〃

〃I'm　always　hungry。〃

〃So　am　I。〃

We　went　out　in　the　snow　but　it　was　drifted　so　that　we　could　not　walk　far。　I　went　ahead　and　made　a　trail　down　to　the　station　but　when　we　reached　there　we　had　gone　far　enough。　The　snow　was　blowing　so　we　could　hardly　see　and　we　went　into　the　little　inn　by　the　station　and　swept　each　other　off　with　a　broom　and　sat　on　a　bench　and　had　vermouths。

〃It　is　a　big　storm；〃　the　barmaid　said。

〃Yes。〃

〃The　snow　is　very　late　this　year。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Could　I　eat　a　chocolate　bar？〃　Catherine　asked。　〃Or　is　it　too　close　to　lunch？　I'm　always　hungry。〃

〃Go　on　and　eat　one；〃　I　said。

〃I'll　take　one　with　filberts；〃　Catherine　said。

〃They　are　very　good；〃　the　girl　said；　〃I　like　them　the　best。〃

〃I'll　have　another　ver