第4部分（第1页）

〃I　see。〃

〃The　Italians　didnt　want　women　so　near　the　front。　So　were　all　on　very　special　behavior。　We　dont　go　out。〃

〃I　can　e　here　though。〃

〃Oh；　yes。　Were　not　cloistered。〃

〃Lets　drop　the　war。〃

〃Its　very　hard。　Theres　no　place　to　drop　it。〃

〃Lets　drop　it　anyway。〃

〃All　right。〃

We　looked　at　each　other　in　the　dark。　I　thought　she　was　very　beautiful　and　I　took　her　hand。　She　let　me　take　it　and　I　held　it　and　put　my　arm　around　under　her　arm。

〃No；〃　she　said。　I　kept　my　arm　where　it　was。

〃Why　not？〃

〃No。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃Please。〃　I　leaned　forward　in　the　dark　to　kiss　her　and　there　was　a　sharp　stinging　flash。　She　had　slapped　my　face　hard。　Her　hand　had　hit　my　nose　and　eyes；　and　tears　came　in　my　eyes　from　the　reflex。

〃Im　so　sorry；〃　she　said。　I　felt　I　had　a　certain　advantage。

〃You　were　quite　right。〃

〃Im　dreadfully　sorry；〃　she　said。　〃I　just　couldnt　stand　the　nurses…eveningoff　aspect　of　it。　I　didnt　mean　to　hurt　you。　I　did　hurt　you；　didnt　I？〃

She　was　looking　at　me　in　the　dark。　I　was　angry　and　yet　certain；　seeing　it　all　ahead　like　the　moves　in　a　chess　game。

〃You　did　exactly　right；〃　I　said。　〃I　dont　mind　at　all。〃

〃Poor　man。〃

〃You　see　Ive　been　leading　a　sort　of　a　funny　life。　And　I　never　even　talk　English。　And　then　you　are　so　very　beautiful。〃　I　looked　at　her。

〃You　dont　need　to　say　a　lot　of　nonsense。　I　said　I　was　sorry。　We　do　get　along。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃And　we　have　gotten　away　from　the　war。〃

She　laughed。　It　was　the　first　time　I　had　ever　heard　her　laugh。　I　watched　her　face。

〃You　are　sweet；〃　she　said。

〃No；　Im　not。〃

〃Yes。　You　are　a　dear。　Id　be　glad　to　kiss　you　if　you　dont　mind。〃

I　looked　in　her　eyes　and　put　my　arm　around　her　as　I　had　before　and　kissed　her。　I　kissed　her　hard　and　held　her　tight　and　tried　to　open　her　lips；　they　were　closed　tight。　I　was　still　angry　and　as　I　held　her　suddenly　she　shivered。　I　held　her　close　against　me　and　could　feel　her　heart　beating　and　her　lips　opened　and　her　head　went　back　against　my　hand　and　then　she　was　crying　on　my　shoulder。

〃Oh；　darling；〃　she　said。　〃You　will　be　good　to　me；　wont　you？〃

What　the　hell；　I　thought。　I　stroked　her　hair　and　patted　her　shoulder。　She　was　crying。

〃You　will；　wont　you？〃　She　looked　up　at　me。　〃Because　were　going　to　have　a　strange　life。〃

After　a　while　I　walked　with　her　to　the　door　of　the　villa　and　she　went　in　and　I　walked　home。　Back　at　the　villa　I　went　upstairs　to　the　room。　Rinaldi　was　lying　on　his　bed。　He　looked　at　me。

〃So　you　make　progress　with　Miss　Barkley？〃

〃We　are　friends。〃

〃You　have　that　pleasant　air　of　a　dog　in　heat。〃

I　did　not　understand　the　word。

〃Of　a　what？〃

He　explained。

〃You；〃　I　said；　〃have　that　pleasant　air　of　a　dog　who……〃

〃Stop　it；〃　he　said。　〃In　a　little　while　we　would　say　insulting　things。〃　He　laughed。

〃Good…night；〃　I　said。