第38部分(第4/7 頁)

〃

〃I　might。　I　like　it　the　way　it　is。〃

〃It　might　be　nice　short。　Then　we'd　both　be　alike。　Oh；　darling；　I　want　you　so　much　I　want　to　be　you　too。〃

〃You　are。　We're　the　same　one。〃

〃I　know　it。　At　night　we　are。〃

〃The　nights　are　grand。〃

〃I　want　us　to　be　all　mixed　up。　I　don't　want　you　to　go　away。　I　just　said　that。　You　go　if　you　want　to。　But　hurry　right　back。　Why；　darling；　I　don't　live　at　all　when　I'm　not　with　you。〃

〃I　won't　ever　go　away；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　no　good　when　you're　not　there。　I　haven't　any　life　at　all　any　more。〃

〃I　want　you　to　have　a　life。　I　want　you　to　have　a　fine　life。　But　we'll　have　it　together；　won't　we？〃

〃And　now　do　you　want　me　to　stop　growing　my　beard　or　let　it　go　on？〃

〃Go　on。　Grow　it。　It　will　be　exciting。　Maybe　it　will　be　done　for　New　Year's。〃

〃Now　do　you　want　to　play　chess？〃

〃I'd　rather　play　with　you。〃

〃No。　Let's　play　chess。〃

〃And　afterward　we'll　play？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃All　right。〃

I　got　out　the　chess…board　and　arranged　the　pieces。　It　was　still　snowing　hard　outside。

One　time　in　the　night　I　woke　up　and　knew　that　Catherine　was　awake　too。　The　moon　was　shining　in　the　window　and　made　shadows　on　the　bed　from　the　bars　on　the　window…panes。

〃Are　you　awake；　sweetheart？〃

〃Yes。　Can't　you　sleep？〃

〃I　just　woke　up　thinking　about　how　I　was　nearly　crazy　when　I　first　met　you。　Do　you　remember？〃

〃You　were　just　a　little　crazy。〃

〃I'm　never　that　way　any　more。　I'm　grand　now。　You　say　grand　so　sweetly。　Say　grand。〃

〃Grand。〃

〃Oh；　you're　sweet。　And　I'm　not　crazy　now。　I'm　just　very；　very；　very　happy。〃

〃Go　on　to　sleep；〃　I　said。

〃All　right。　Let's　go　to　sleep　at　exactly　the　same　moment。〃

〃All　right。〃

But　we