第39部分(第3/8 頁)

n；　passing　the　lake　on　one　side　and　on　the　other　the　wet　brown　fields　and　the　bare　woods　and　the　wet　houses。　We　came　into　Lausanne　and　went　into　a　medium…sized　hotel　to　stay。　It　was　still　raining　as　we　drove　through　the　streets　and　into　the　carriage　entrance　of　the　hotel。　The　concierge　with　brass　keys　on　his　lapels；　the　elevator；　the　carpets　on　the　floors；　and　the　white　washbowls　with　shining　fixtures；　the　brass　bed　and　the　big　fortable　bedroom　all　seemed　very　great　luxury　after　the　Guttingens。　The　windows　of　the　room　looked　out　on　a　wet　garden　with　a　wall　topped　by　an　iron　fence。　Across　the　street；　which　sloped　steeply；　was　another　hotel　with　a　similar　wall　and　garden。　I　looked　out　at　the　rain　falling　in　the　fountain　of　the　garden。

Catherine　turned　on　all　the　lights　and　menced　unpacking。　I　ordered　a　whiskey　and　soda　and　lay　on　the　bed　and　read　the　papers　I　had　bought　at　the　station。　It　was　March；　1918；　and　the　German　offensive　had　started　in　France。　I　drank　the　whiskey　and　soda　and　read　while　Catherine　unpacked　and　moved　around　the　room。

〃You　know　what　I　have　to　get；　darling；〃　she　said。

〃What？〃

〃Baby　clothes。　There　aren't　many　people　reach　my　time　without　baby　things。〃

〃You　can　buy　them。〃

〃I　know。　That's　what　I'll　do　to…morrow。　I'll　find　out　what　is　necessary。〃

〃You　ought　to　know。　You　were　a　nurse。〃

〃But　so　few　of　the　soldiers　had　babies　in　the　hospitals。〃

〃I　did。〃

She　hit　me　with　the　pillow　and　spilled　th