第12部分(第4/7 頁)

orter　laughed。　〃He　was　funny。　One　move　from　you　he　said　and　he　would　have……〃　he　drew　his　forefinger　across　his　throat。

〃Ho　ho　ho；〃　he　tried　to　keep　from　laughing。　〃When　I　tell　him　you　were　not　an　Austrian。　Ho　ho　ho。〃

〃Hoho　ho；〃　I　said　bitterly。　〃How　funny　if　he　would　cut　my　throat。　Ho　ho　ho。〃

〃No；　signorino。　No；　no。　He　was　so　frightened　of　an　Austrian。　Ho　ho　ho。〃

〃Ho　ho　ho；〃　I　said。　〃Get　out　of　here。〃

He　went　out　and　I　heard　him　laughing　in　the　hall。　I　heard　some　one　ing　down　the　hallway。　I　looked　toward　the　door。　It　was　Catherine　Barkley。

She　came　in　the　room　and　over　to　the　bed。

〃Hello；　darling；〃　she　said。　She　looked　fresh　and　young　and　very　beautiful。　I　thought　I　had　never　seen　any　one　so　beautiful。

〃Hello；〃　I　said。　When　I　saw　her　I　was　in　love　with　her。　Everything　turned　over　inside　of　me。　She　looked　toward　the　door；　saw　there　was　no　one；　then　she　sat　on　the　side　of　the　bed　and　leaned　over　and　kissed　me。　I　pulled　her　down　and　kissed　her　and　felt　her　heart　beating。

〃You　sweet；〃　I　said。　〃Weren't　you　wonderful　to　e　here？〃

〃It　wasn't　very　hard。　It　may　be　hard　to　stay。〃

〃You've　got　to　stay；〃　I　said。　〃Oh；　you're　wonderful。〃　I　was　crazy　about　her。　I　could　not　believe　she　was　really　there　and　held　her　tight　to　me。

〃You　mustn't；〃　she　said。　〃You're　not　well　enough。〃

〃Yes；　I　am。　e　on。〃

〃No。　You're　not　strong　enough。〃

〃Yes。　I　am。　Yes。　Please。〃

〃You　do　love　me？〃

〃I　really　love　you。　I'm　crazy　about　you。　e　on　please。〃

〃Feel　our　hearts　beating。〃

〃I　don't　care　about　our　hearts。　I　want　you。　I'm　just　mad　about　you。〃

〃You　really　love　me？〃

〃Don't　keep　on　saying　that。　e　on。　Please。　Please；　Catherine。〃

〃All　right　but　only　for　a　minute。〃