第42部分(第3/6 頁)

hrough　on　the　British　front。　When　he　realized　I　was　reading　the　back　of　his　paper　he　folded　it　over。　I　thought　of　asking　the　waiter　for　a　paper；　but　I　could　not　concentrate。　It　was　hot　in　the　caf？and　the　air　was　bad。　Many　of　the　people　at　the　tables　knew　one　another。　There　were　several　card　games　going　on。　The　waiters　were　busy　bringing　drinks　from　the　bar　to　the　tables。　Two　men　came　in　and　could　find　no　place　to　sit。　They　stood　opposite　the　table　where　I　was。　I　ordered　another　beer。　I　was　not　ready　to　leave　yet。　It　was　too　soon　to　go　back　to　the　hospital。　I　tried　not　to　think　and　to　be　perfectly　calm。　The　men　stood　around　but　no　one　was　leaving；　so　they　went　out。　I　drank　another　beer。　There　was　quite　a　pile　of　saucers　now　on　the　table　in　front　of　me。　The　man　opposite　me　had　taken　off　his　spectacles；　put　them　away　in　a　case；　folded　his　paper　and　put　it　in　his　pocket　and　now　sat　holding　his　liqueur　glass　and　looking　out　at　the　room。　Suddenly　I　knew　I　had　to　get　back。　I　called　the　waiter；　paid　the　reckoning；　got　into　my　coat；　put　on　my　hat　and　started　out　the　door。　I　walked　through　the　rain　up　to　the　hospital。

Upstairs　I　met　the　nurse　ing　down　the　hall。

〃I　just　called　you　at　the　hotel；〃　she　said。　Something　dropped　inside　me。

〃What　is　wrong？〃

〃Mrs。　Henry　has　had　a　hemorrhage。〃

〃Can　I　go　in？〃

〃No；　not　yet。　The　doctor　is　with　her。〃

〃Is　it　dangerous？〃

〃It　is　very　dangerous。〃　The　nurse　went　into　the　room　and　shut　the　door。　I　sa