第33部分(第2/7 頁)

I　was　out　trolling　alone　I　had　the　line　in　my　teeth　and　one　struck　and　nearly　took　my　mouth　out。〃

〃The　best　way　is　to　have　it　over　your　leg；〃　I　said。　〃Then　you　feel　it　and　don't　lose　your　teeth。〃

I　put　my　hand　in　the　water。　It　was　very　cold。　We　were　almost　opposite　the　hotel　now。

〃I　have　to　go　in；〃　the　barman　said；　〃to　be　there　for　eleven　o'clock。　L'heure　du　cocktail。〃

〃All　right。〃

I　pulled　in　the　line　and　wrapped　it　on　a　stick　notched　at　each　end。　The　barman　put　the　boat　in　a　little　slip　in　the　stone　wall　and　locked　it　with　a　chain　and　padlock。

〃Any　time　you　want　it；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　give　you　the　key。〃

〃Thanks。〃

We　went　up　to　the　hotel　and　into　the　bar。　I　did　not　want　another　drink　so　early　in　the　morning　so　I　went　up　to　our　room。　The　maid　had　just　finished　doing　the　room　and　Catherine　was　not　back　yet。　I　lay　down　on　the　bed　and　tried　to　keep　from　thinking。

When　Catherine　came　back　it　was　all　right　again。　Ferguson　was　downstairs；　she　said。　She　was　ing　to　lunch。

〃I　knew　you　wouldn't　mind；〃　Catherine　said。

〃No；〃　I　said。

〃What's　the　matter；　darling？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃I　know。　You　haven't　anything　to　do。　All　you　have　is　me　and　I　go　away。〃

〃That's　true。〃

〃I'm　sorry；　darling。　I　know　it　must　be　a　dreadful　feeling　to　have　nothing　at　all　suddenly。〃

〃My　life　used　to　be　full　of　everything；〃　I　said。　〃Now　if　you　aren't　with　me　I　haven't　a　thing　in　the　world。〃

〃But　I'll　be　with　you。　I　was　only　gone　for　two　hours。　Isn't　there　anything　you　can　do？〃

〃I　went　fishing　with　the　barman。〃

〃Wasn't　it　fun？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Don't　think　about　me　when　I'm　not　here。〃

〃That's　the　way　I　worked　it　at　the　front。　But　there　was　something　to　do　then。〃