第6部分(第2/8 頁)

Hello；〃　she　said。　〃Catherine　asked　me　to　tell　you　she　was　sorry　she　couldn't　see　you　this　evening。〃

〃I'm　so　sorry。　I　hope　she's　not　ill。〃

〃She's　not　awfully　well。〃

〃Will　you　tell　her　how　sorry　I　am？〃

〃Yes；　I　will。〃

〃Do　you　think　it　would　be　any　good　to　try　and　see　her　tomorrow？〃

〃Yes；　I　do。〃

〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　I　said。　〃Good…night。〃

I　went　out　the　door　and　suddenly　I　felt　lonely　and　empty。　I　had　treated　seeing　Catherine　very　lightly；　I　had　gotten　somewhat　drunk　and　had　nearly　forgotten　to　e　but　when　I　could　not　see　her　there　I　was　feeling　lonely　and　hollow。

8

The　next　afternoon　we　heard　there　was　to　be　an　attack　up　the　river　that　night　and　that　we　were　to　take　four　cars　there。　Nobody　knew　anything　about　it　although　they　all　spoke　with　great　positiveness　and　strategical　knowledge。　I　was　riding　in　the　first　car　and　as　we　passed　the　entry　to　the　British　hospital　I　told　the　driver　to　stop。　The　other　cars　pulled　up。　I　got　out　and　told　the　driver　to　go　on　and　that　if　we　had　not　caught　up　to　them　at　the　junction　of　the　road　to　Cormons　to　wait　there。　I　hurried　up　the　driveway　and　inside　the　reception　hall　I　asked　for　Miss　Barkley。

〃She's　on　duty。〃

〃Could　I　see　her　just　for　a　moment？〃

They　sent　an　orderly　to　see　and　she　came　back　with　him。

〃I　stopped　to　ask　if　you　were　better。　They　told　me　you　were　on　duty；　so　I　asked　to　see　you。〃

〃I'm　quite　well；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　the　heat　kn