第18部分(第3/9 頁)

　couldn't　help　it；　darling；　and　I　haven't　worried　about　it。　You　mustn't　worry　or　feel　badly。〃

〃I　only　worry　about　you。〃

〃That's　it。　That's　what　you　mustn't　do。　People　have　babies　all　the　time。　Everybody　has　babies。　It's　a　natural　thing。〃

〃You're　pretty　wonderful。〃

〃No　I'm　not。　But　you　mustn't　mind；　darling。　I'll　try　and　not　make　trouble　for　you。　I　know　I've　made　trouble　now。　But　haven't　I　been　a　good　girl　until　now？　You　never　knew　it；　did　you？〃

〃No。〃

〃It　will　all　be　like　that。　You　simply　mustn't　worry。　I　can　see　you're　worrying。　Stop　it。　Stop　it　right　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