第16部分(第4/7 頁)

much　quieter。〃

〃I　don't　mind　him。〃

〃I　wouldn't　mind　him　if　he　wasn't　so　conceited　and　didn't　bore　me；　and　bore　me；　and　bore　me。〃

〃He　bores　me。〃

〃You're　sweet　to　say　so；　darling。　But　you　don't　need　to。　You　can　picture　him　at　the　front　and　you　know　he's　useful　but　he's　so　much　the　type　of　boy　I　don't　care　for。〃

〃I　know。〃

〃You're　awfully　sweet　to　know；　and　I　try　and　like　him　but　he's　a　dreadful；　dreadful　boy　really。〃

〃He　said　this　afternoon　he　was　going　to　be　a　captain。〃

〃I'm　glad；〃　said　Catherine。　〃That　should　please　him。〃

〃Wouldn't　you　like　me　to　have　some　more　exalted　rank？〃

〃No；　darling。　I　only　want　you　to　have　enough　rank　so　that　we're　admitted　to　the　better　restaurants。〃

〃That's　just　the　rank　I　have。〃

〃You　have　a　splendid　rank。　I　don't　want　you　to　have　any　more　rank。　It　might　go　to　your　head。　Oh；　darling；　I'm　awfully　glad　you're　not　conceited。　I'd　have　married　you　even　if　you　were　conceited　but　it's　very　restful　to　have　a　husband　who's　not　conceited。〃

We　were　talking　softly　out　on　the　balcony。　The　moon　was　supposed　to　rise　but　there　was　a　mist　over　the　town　and　it　did　not　e　up　and　in　a　little　while　it　started　to　drizzle　and　we　came　in。　Outside　the　mist　turned　to　rain　and　in　a　little　while　it　was　raining　hard　and　we　heard　it　drumming　on　the　roof。　I　got　up　and　stood　at　the　door　to　see　if　it　was　raining　in　but　it　wasn't；　so　I　left　the　door　open。

〃Who　else　did　you　see？〃　Catherine　asked。

〃Mr。　and　Mrs。　Meyers。〃

〃They're　a　strange　lot。〃

〃He's　supposed　to　have　been　in　the　penitentiary　at　home。　They　let　him　out　to　die。〃

〃And　he　lived　happily　in　Milan　forever　after。〃

〃I　don't　know　how　happily。〃

〃Happily　enough　after　jail　I　should　think。〃