第38部分（第1页）

〃No。　I　feel　splendid。〃

〃It　isnt　a　long　ride。〃

〃I　like　the　ride；〃　she　said。　〃Dont　worry　about　me；　darling。　I　feel　fine。〃

Snow　did　not　e　until　three　days　before　Christmas。　We　woke　one　morning　and　it　was　snowing。　We　stayed　in　bed　with　the　fire　roaring　in　the　stove　and　watched　the　snow　fall。　Mrs。　Guttingen　took　away　the　breakfast　trays　and　put　more　wood　in　the　stove。　It　was　a　big　snow　storm。　She　said　it　had　started　about　midnight。　I　went　to　the　window　and　looked　out　but　could　not　see　across　the　road。　It　was　blowing　and　snowing　wildly。　I　went　back　to　bed　and　we　lay　and　talked。

〃I　wish　I　could　ski；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Its　rotten　not　to　be　able　to　ski。〃

〃Well　get　a　bobsled　and　e　down　the　road。　Thats　no　worse　for　you　than　riding　in　a　car。〃

〃Wont　it　be　rough？〃

〃We　can　see。〃

〃I　hope　it　wont　be　too　rough。〃

〃After　a　while　well　take　a　walk　in　the　snow。〃

〃Before　lunch；〃　Catherine　said；　〃so　well　have　a　good　appetite。〃

〃Im　always　hungry。〃

〃So　am　I。〃

We　went　out　in　the　snow　but　it　was　drifted　so　that　we　could　not　walk　far。　I　went　ahead　and　made　a　trail　down　to　the　station　but　when　we　reached　there　we　had　gone　far　enough。　The　snow　was　blowing　so　we　could　hardly　see　and　we　went　into　the　little　inn　by　the　station　and　swept　each　other　off　with　a　broom　and　sat　on　a　bench　and　had　vermouths。

〃It　is　a　big　storm；〃　the　barmaid　said。

〃Yes。〃

〃The　snow　is　very　late　this　year。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Could　I　eat　a　chocolate　bar？〃　Catherine　asked。　〃Or　is　it　too　close　to　lunch？　Im　always　hungry。〃

〃Go　on　and　eat　one；〃　I　said。

〃Ill　take　one　with　filberts；〃　Catherine　said。

〃They　are　very　good；〃　the　girl　said；　〃I　like　them　the　best。〃

〃Ill　have　another　vermouth；〃　I　said。

When　we　came　out　to　start　back　up　the　road　our　track　was　filled　in　by　the　snow。　There　were　only　faint　indentations　where　the　holes　had　been。　The　snow　blew　in　our　faces　so　we　could　hardly　see。　We　brushed　off　and　went　in　to　have　lunch。　Mr。　Guttingen　served　the　lunch。

〃To…morrow　there　will　be　ski…ing；〃　he　said。　〃Do　you　ski；　Mr。　Henry？〃

〃No。　But　I　want　to　learn。〃

〃You　will　learn　very　easily。　My　boy　will　be　here　for　Christmas　and　he　will　teach　you。〃

〃Thats　fine。　When　does　he　e？〃

〃To…morrow　night。〃

When　we　were　sitting　by　the　stove　in　the　little　room　after　lunch　looking　out　the　window　at　the　snow　ing　down　Catherine　said；　〃Wouldnt　you　like　to　go　on　a　trip　somewhere　by　yourself；　darling；　and　be　with　men　and　ski？〃

〃No。　Why　should　I？〃

〃I　should　think　sometimes　you　would　want　to　see　other　people　besides　me。〃

〃Do　you　want　to　see　other　people？〃

〃No。〃

〃Neither　do　I。〃

〃I　know。　But　youre　different。　Im　having　a　child　and　that　makes　me　contented　not　to　do　anything。　I　know　Im　awfully　stupid　now　and　I　talk　too　much　and　I　think　you　ought　to　get　away　so　you　wont　be　tired　of　me。〃

〃Do　you　want　me　to　go　away？〃

〃No。　I　want　you　to　stay。〃

〃Thats　what　Im　going　to　do。〃