第9部分(第3/7 頁)

at　I　did　in　the　removal　of　three　metres　of　small　intestine　and　better　now　than　ever。　It　is　one　for　The　Lancet。　You　do　me　a　translation　and　I　will　send　it　to　The　Lancet。　Every　day　I　am　better。　Poor　dear　baby；　how　do　you　feel？　Where　is　that　damn　corkscrew？　You　are　so　brave　and　quiet　I　forget　you　are　suffering。〃　He　slapped　his　gloves　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。

〃Here　is　the　corkscrew；　Signor　Tenente；〃　the　orderly　said。

〃Open　the　bottle。　Bring　a　glass。　Drink　that；　baby。　How　is　your　poor　head？　I　looked　at　your　papers。　You　haven't　any　fracture。　That　major　at　the　first　post　was　a　hog…butcher。　I　would　take　you　and　never　hurt　you。　I　never　hurt　anybody。　I　learn　how　to　do　it。　Every　day　I　learn　to　do　things　smoother　and　better。　You　must　forgive　me　for　talking　so　much；　baby。　I　am　very　moved　to　see　you　badly　wounded。　There；　drink　that。　It's　good。　It　cost　fifteen　lire。　It　ought　to　be　good。　Five　stars。　After　I　leave　here　I'll　go　see　that　English　and　he'll　get　you　an　English　medal。〃

〃They　don't　give　them　like　that。〃

〃You　are　so　modest。　I　will　send　the　liaison　officer。　He　can　handle　the　English。〃

〃Have　you　seen　Miss　Barkley？〃

〃I　will　bring　her　here。　I　will　go　now　and　bring　her　here。〃

〃Don't　go；〃　I　said。　〃Tell　me　about　Gorizia。　How　are　the　girls？〃

〃There　are　no　girls。　For　two　weeks　now　they　haven't　changed　them。　I　don't　go　there　any　more。　It　is　disgraceful。　They　aren't　girls；　they　are　old　war　rades。〃

〃You　don't　go　at　all？〃

〃I　just　go　to　see　if　there　is　anything　new。　I　stop　by。　They　all　ask　for　you。　It　is　a　disgrace　that　they　should　stay　so　long　that　they　bee　friends。〃

〃Maybe　girls　don't　want　to　go　to　the　front　any　more。〃

〃Of　course　they　do。　They　have　plenty　of　girls。　It　is　just　bad　administration。　They　are　kee