第9部分(第6/7 頁)

p　that　moved　a　little　in　the　evening　breeze。　The　breeze　came　in　through　the　window　and　it　was　cooler　with　the　evening。　The　flies　were　on　the　ceiling　now　and　on　the　electric　light　bulbs　that　hung　on　wires。　The　lights　were　only　turned　on　when　some　one　was　brought　in　at　night　or　when　something　was　being　done。　It　made　me　feel　very　young　to　have　the　dark　e　after　the　dusk　and　then　remain。　It　was　like　being　put　to　bed　after　early　supper。　The　orderly　came　down　between　the　beds　and　stopped。　Some　one　was　with　him。　It　was　the　priest。　He　stood　there　small；　brown…faced；　and　embarrassed。

〃How　do　you　do？〃　he　asked。　He　put　some　packages　down　by　the　bed；　on　the　floor。

〃All　right；　father。〃

He　sat　down　in　the　chair　that　had　been　brought　for　Rinaldi　and　looked　out　of　the　window　embarrassedly。　I　noticed　his　face　looked　Very　tired。

〃I　can　only　stay　a　minute；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　late。〃

〃It's　not　late。　How　is　the　mess？〃

He　smiled。　〃I　am　still　a　great　joke；〃　he　sounded　tired　too。　〃Thank　God　they　are　all　well。

〃I　am　so　glad　you　are　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃I　hope　you　don't　suffer。〃　He　seemed　very　tired　and　I　was　not　used　to　seeing　him　tired。

〃Not　any　more。〃

〃I　miss　you　at　the　mess。〃

〃I　wish　I　were　there。　I　always　enjoyed　our　talking。〃

〃I　brought　you　a　few　little　things；〃　he　said。　He　picked　up　the　packages。　〃This　is　mosquito　netting。　This　is　a　bottle　of　vermouth。　You　like　vermouth？　These　are　English　papers。〃

〃Please　open　them。〃

He　was　pleased　and　undid　them。　I　held　the　mosquito　netting　in　my　hands。　The　vermouth　he　held　up　for　me　to　see　and　then　put　it　on　the　floor　beside　the　bed。　I　held　up　one　of　the　sheaf　of　English　papers。　I　could　read　the　headlines　by　turning　it　so　the　half…light　from　the　window　was　on　it。　It