第12部分（第1页）

〃I　wasnt。　But　whats　the　idea　of　a　hospital　without　a　doctor？〃

〃Hes　ing。　Theyve　telephoned　for　him　to　Lake　o。〃

〃What　does　he　do　there？　Swim？〃

〃No。　He　has　a　clinic　there。〃

〃Why　dont　they　get　another　doctor？〃

〃Hush。　Hush。　Be　a　good　boy　and　hell　e。〃

I　sent　for　the　porter　and　when　he　came　I　told　him　in　Italian　to　get　me　a　bottle　of　Cinzano　at　the　wine　shop；　a　fiasco　of　chianti　and　the　evening　papers。　He　went　away　and　brought　them　wrapped　in　newspaper；　unwrapped　them　and；　when　I　asked　him　to；　drew　the　corks　and　put　the　wine　and　vermouth　under　the　bed。　They　left　me　alone　and　I　lay　in　bed　and　read　the　papers　awhile；　the　news　from　the　front；　and　the　list　of　dead　officers　with　their　decorations　and　then　reached　down　and　brought　up　the　bottle　of　Cinzano　and　held　it　straight　up　on　my　stomach；　the　cool　glass　against　my　stomach；　and　took　little　drinks　making　rings　on　my　stomach　from　holding　the　bottle　there　between　drinks；　and　watched　it　get　dark　outside　over　the　roofs　of　the　town。　The　swallows　circled　around　and　I　watched　them　and　the　night…hawks　flying　above　the　roofs　and　drank　the　Cinzano。　Miss　Gage　brought　up　a　glass　with　some　eggnog　in　it。　I　lowered　the　vermouth　bottle　to　the　other　side　of　the　bed　when　she　came　in。

〃Miss　Van　Campen　had　some　sherry　put　in　this；〃　she　said。　〃You　shouldnt　be　rude　to　her。　Shes　not　young　and　this　hospital　is　a　big　responsibility　for　her。　Mrs。　Walkers　too　old　and　shes　no　use　to　her。〃

〃Shes　a　splendid　woman；〃　I　said。　〃Thank　her　very　much。〃

〃Im　going　to　bring　your　supper　right　away。〃

〃Thats　all　right；〃　I　said。　〃Im　not　hungry。〃

When　she　brought　the　tray　and　put　it　on　the　bed　table　I　thanked　her　and　ate　a　little　of　the　supper。　Afterward　it　was　dark　outside　and　I　could　see　the　beams　of　the　search…lights　moving　in　the　sky。　I　watched　for　a　while　and　then　went　to　sleep。　I　slept　heavily　except　once　I　woke　sweating　and　scared　and　then　went　back　to　sleep　trying　to　stay　outside　of　my　dream。　I　woke　for　good　long　before　it　was　light　and　heard　roosters　crowing　and　stayed　on　awake　until　it　began　to　be　light。　I　was　tired　and　once　it　was　really　light　I　went　back　to　sleep　again。

It　was　bright　sunlight　in　the　room　when　I　woke。　I　thought　I　was　back　at　the　front　and　stretched　out　in　bed。　My　legs　hurt　me　and　I　looked　down　at　them　still　in　the　dirty　bandages；　and　seeing　them　knew　where　I　was。　I　reached　up　for　the　bell…cord　and　pushed　the　button。　I　heard　it　buzz　down　the　hall　and　then　some　one　ing　on　rubber　soles　along　the　hall。　It　was　Miss　Gage　and　she　looked　a　little　older　in　the　bright　sunlight　and　not　so　pretty。

〃Good…morning；〃　she　said。　〃Did　you　have　a　good　night？〃

〃Yes。　Thanks　very　much；〃　I　said。　〃Can　I　have　a　barber？〃

〃I　came　in　to　see　you　and　you　were　asleep　with　this　in　the　bed　with　you。〃

She　opened　the　armoire　door　and　held　up　the　vermouth　bottle。　It　was　nearly　empty。　〃I　put　the　other　bottle　from　under　the　bed　in　there　too；〃　she　said。　〃Why　didnt　you　ask　me　for　a　glass？〃

〃I　thought　maybe　you　wouldnt　let　me　have　it。〃

〃Id　have　had　some　with　you。〃

〃Youre　a　fine　girl。〃

〃It　isnt　good　for　you　to　drink　alone；〃　she　said。　〃You　mustnt　do　it。〃

〃All　right。〃

〃Your　friend　Miss　Barkleys　e；〃　she　said。

〃Really？〃

〃Yes。　I　dont　like　her。〃

〃You　will　like　her。　Shes　awfully　nice。〃

She　shook　her　head。　〃Im　sure　shes　fine。　Can　you　move　just　a　little　to　this　side？　Thats　fine。　Ill　clean　you　up　for　breakfast。〃　She　washed　me　with　a　cloth　and　soap　and　warm　water。　〃Hold　your　shoulder　up；〃　she　said。　〃Thats　fine。〃

〃Can　I　have　the　barber　before　breakfast？〃

〃Ill　send　the　porter　for　him。〃　She　went　out　and　came　back。　〃Hes　gone　for　him；〃　she　said　and　dipped　the　cloth　she　held　in　the　basin　of　water。

The　barber　came　with　the　porter。　He　was　a　man　of　about　fifty　with　an　upturned　mustache。　Miss　Gage　was　finished　with　me　and　went　out　and　the　barber　lathered　my　face　and　shaved。　He　was　very　solemn　and　refrained　from　talking。

〃Whats　the　matter？　Dont　you　know　any　news？〃　I　asked。

〃What　news？〃

〃Any　news。　Whats　happened　in　the　town？〃

〃It　is　time　of　wai〃　he　said。　〃The　enemys　ears　are　everywhere。〃

I　looked　up　at　him。　〃Please　hold　your　face　still；〃　he　said　and　went　on　shaving。　〃I　will　tell　nothing。〃