第18部分（第1页）

nd　a　dressing…gown；　pulled　down　the　curtains　on　the　door　that　opened　onto　the　balcony　and　sitting　up　in　bed　read　Boston　papers　from　a　pile　Mrs。　Meyers　had　left　for　her　boys　at　the　hospital。　The　Chicago　White　Sox　were　winning　the　American　League　pennant　and　the　New　York　Giants　were　leading　the　National　League。　Babe　Ruth　was　a　pitcher　then　playing　for　Boston。　The　papers　were　dull；　the　news　was　local　and　stale；　and　the　war　news　was　all　old。　The　American　news　was　all　training　camps。　I　was　glad　I　wasnt　in　a　training　camp。　The　baseball　news　was　all　I　could　read　and　I　did　not　have　the　slightest　interest　in　it。　A　number　of　papers　together　made　it　impossible　to　read　with　interest。　It　was　not　very　timely　but　I　read　at　it　for　a　while。　I　wondered　if　America　really　got　into　the　war；　if　they　would　close　down　the　major　leagues。　They　probably　wouldnt。　There　was　still　racing　in　Milan　and　the　war　could　not　be　much　worse。　They　had　stopped　racing　in　France。　That　was　where　our　horse　Japalac　came　from。　Catherine　was　not　due　on　duty　until　nine　oclock。　I　heard　her　passing　along　the　floor　when　she　first　came　on　duty　and　once　saw　her　pass　in　the　hall。　She　went　to　several　other　rooms　and　finally　came　into　mine。

〃Im　late；　darling；〃　she　said。　〃There　was　a　lot　to　do。　How　are　you？〃

I　told　her　about　my　papers　and　the　leave。

〃Thats　lovely；〃　she　said。　〃Where　do　you　want　to　go？〃

〃Nowhere。　I　want　to　stay　here。〃

〃Thats　silly。　You　pick　a　place　to　go　and　Ill　e　too。〃

〃How　will　you　work　it？〃

〃I　dont　know。　But　I　will。〃

〃Youre　pretty　wonderful。〃

〃No　Im　not。　But　life　isnt　hard　to　manage　when　youve　nothing　to　lose。〃

〃How　do　you　mean？〃

〃Nothing。　I　was　only　thinking　how　small　obstacles　seemed　that　once　were　so　big。〃

〃I　should　think　it　might　be　hard　to　manage。〃

〃No　it　wont；　darling。　If　necessary　Ill　simply　leave。　But　it　wont　e　to　that。〃

〃Where　should　we　go？〃

〃I　dont　care。　Anywhere　you　want。　Anywhere　we　dont　know　people。〃

〃Dont　you　care　where　we　go？〃

〃No。　Ill　like　any　place。〃

She　seemed　upset　and　taut。

〃Whats　the　matter；　Catherine？〃

〃Nothing。　Nothings　the　matter。〃

〃Yes　there　is。〃

〃No　nothing。　Really　nothing。〃

〃I　know　there　is。　Tell　me；　darling。　You　can　tell　me。〃

〃Its　nothing。〃

〃Tell　me。〃

〃I　dont　want　to。　Im　afraid　Ill　make　you　unhappy　or　worry　you。〃

〃No　it　wont。〃

〃Youre　sure？　It　doesnt　worry　me　but　Im　afraid　to　worry　you。〃

〃It　wont　if　it　doesnt　worry　you。〃

〃I　dont　want　to　tell。〃

〃Tell　it。〃

〃Do　I　have　to？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Im　going　to　have　a　baby；　darling。　Its　almost　three　months　along。　Youre　not　worried；　are　you？　Please　please　dont。　You　mustnt　worry。〃