第18部分(第3/7 頁)

away。　Wouldn't　you　like　a　drink；　darling？　I　know　a　drink　always　makes　you　feel　cheerful。〃

〃No。　I　feel　cheerful。　And　you're　pretty　wonderful。〃

〃No　I'm　not。　But　I'll　fix　everything　to　be　together　if　you　pick　out　a　place　for　us　to　go。　It　ought　to　be　lovely　in　October。　We'll　have　a　lovely　time；　darling；　and　I'll　write　you　every　day　while　you're　at　the　front。〃

〃Where　will　you　be？〃

〃I　don't　know　yet。　But　somewhere　splendid。　I'll　look　after　all　that。〃

We　were　quiet　awhile　and　did　not　talk。　Catherine　was　sitting　on　the　bed　and　I　was　looking　at　her　but　we　did　not　touch　each　other。　We　were　apart　as　when　some　one　es　into　a　room　and　people　are　self…conscious。　She　put　out　her　hand　and　took　mine。

〃You　aren't　angry　are　you；　darling？〃

〃No。〃

〃And　you　don't　feel　trapped？〃

〃Maybe　a　little。　But　not　by　you。〃

〃I　didn't　mean　by　me。　You　mustn't　be　stupid。　I　meant　trapped　at　all。〃

〃You　always　feel　trapped　biologically。〃

She　went　away　a　long　way　without　stirring　or　removing　her　hand。

〃'Always'　isn't　a　pretty　word。〃

〃I'm　sorry。〃

〃It's　all　right。　But　you　see　I've　never　had　a　baby　and　I've　never　even　loved　any　one。　And　I've　tried　to　be　the　way　you　wanted　and　then　you　talk　about　'always。〃

〃I　could　cut　off　my　tongue；〃　I　offered。

〃Oh；　darling！〃　she　came　back　from　wherever　she　had　been。　〃You　mustn't　mind　me。〃　We　were　both　together　again　and　the　self…consciousness　was　gone。　〃We　really　are　the　same　one　and　we　mustn't　misunderstand　on　purpose。〃

〃We　won't。〃

〃But　people　do。　They　love　each　other　and　they　misunderstand　on　purpose　and　they　fight　and　then　suddenly　they　aren't　the　same　one。〃

〃We　won't　fight。〃

〃We　mustn't。　Because　there's　only　us　two　and　in　the　world　t