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第37部分（第1页）

parked　and　then　the　fire　roared　in　the　stove　and　the　second　time　Mrs。　Guttingen　came　into　the　room　she　brought　big　chunks　of　wood　for　the　fire　and　a　pitcher　of　hot　water。　When　the　room　was　warm　she　brought　in　breakfast。　Sitting　up　in　bed　eating　breakfast　we　could　see　the　lake　and　the　mountains　across　the　lake　on　the　French　side。　There　was　snow　on　the　tops　of　the　mountains　and　the　lake　was　a　gray　steel…blue。

Outside；　in　front　of　the　chalet　a　road　went　up　the　mountain。　The　wheel　ruts　and　ridges　were　iron　hard　with　the　frost；　and　the　road　climbed　steadily　through　the　forest　and　up　and　around　the　mountain　to　where　there　were　meadows；　and　barns　and　cabins　in　the　meadows　at　the　edge　of　the　woods　looking　across　the　valley。　The　valley　was　deep　and　there　was　a　stream　at　the　bottom　that　flowed　down　into　the　lake　and　when　the　wind　blew　across　the　valley　you　could　hear　the　stream　in　the　rocks。

Sometimes　we　went　off　the　road　and　on　a　path　through　the　pine　forest。　The　floor　of　the　forest　was　soft　to　walk　on；　the　frost　did　not　harden　it　as　it　did　the　road。　But　we　did　not　mind　the　hardness　of　the　road　because　we　had　nails　in　the　soles　and　heels　of　our　boots　and　the　heel　nails　bit　on　the　frozen　ruts　and　with　nailed　boots　it　was　good　walking　on　the　road　and　invigorating。　But　it　was　lovely　walking　in　the　woods。

In　front　of　the　house　where　we　lived　the　mountain　went　down　steeply　to　the　little　plain　along　the　lake　and　we　sat　on　the　porch　of　the　house　in　the　sun　and　saw　the　winding　of　the　road　down　the　mountain…side　and　the　terraced　vineyards　on　the　side　of　the　lower　mountain；　the　vines　all　dead　now　for　the　winter　and　the　fields　divided　by　stone　walls；　and　below　the　vineyards　the　houses　of　the　town　on　the　narrow　plain　along　the　lake　shore。　There　was　an　island　with　two　trees　on　the　lake　and　the　trees　looked　like　the　double　sails　of　a　fishing…boat。　The　mountains　were　sharp　and　steep　on　the　other　side　of　the　lake　and　down　at　the　end　of　the　lake　was　the　plain　of　the　Rhone　Valley　flat　between　the　two　ranges　of　mountains；　and　up　the　valley　where　the　mountains　cut　it　off　was　the　Dent　du　Midi。　It　was　a　high　snowy　mountain　and　it　dominated　the　valley　but　it　was　so　far　away　that　it　did　not　make　a　shadow。

When　the　sun　was　bright　we　ate　lunch　on　the　porch　but　the　rest　of　the　time　we　ate　upstairs　in　a　small　room　with　plain　wooden　walls　and　a　big　stove　in　the　corner。　We　bought　books　and　magazines　in　the　town　and　a　copy　of　〃Hoyle〃　and　learned　many　two…handed　card　games。　The　small　room　with　the　stove　was　our　living…room。　There　were　two　fortable　chairs　and　a　table　for　books　and　magazines　and　we　played　cards　on　the　dining…table　when　it　was　cleared　away。　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Guttingen　lived　downstairs　and　we　would　hear　them　talking　sometimes　in　the　evening　and　they　were　very　happy　together　too。　He　had　been　a　headwaiter　and　she　had　worked　as　maid　in　the　same　hotel　and　they　had　saved　their　money　to　buy　this　place。　They　had　a　son　who　was　studying　to　be　a　headwaiter。　He　was　at　a　hotel　in　Zurich。　Downstairs　there　was　a　parlor　where　they　sold　wine　and　beer；　and　sometimes　in　the　evening　we　would　hear　carts　stop　outside　on　the　road　and　men　e　up　the　steps　to　go　in　the　parlor　to　drink　wine。

There　was　a　box　of　wood　in　the　hall　outside　the　living…room　and　I　kept　up　the　fire　from　it。　But　we　did　not　stay　up　very　late。　We　went　to　bed　in　the　dark　in　the　big　bedroom　and　when　I　was　undressed　I　opened　the　windows　and　saw　the　night　and　the　cold　stars　and　the　pine　trees　below　the　window　and　then　got　into　bed　as　fast　as　I　could。　It　was　lovely　in　bed　with　the　air　so　cold　and　clear　and　the　night　outside　the　window。　We　slept　well　and　if　I　woke　in　the　night　I　knew　it　was　from　only　one　cause　and　I　would　shift　the　feather　bed　over；　very　softly　so　that　Catherine　would　not　be　wakened　and　then　go　back　to　sleep　again；　warm　and　with　the　new　lightness　of　thin　covers。　The　war　seemed　as　far　away　as　the　football　games　of　some　one　elses　college。　But　I　knew　from　the　papers　that　they　were　still　fighting　in　the　mountains　because　the　snow　would　not　e。

Sometimes　we　walked　down　the　mountain　into　Montreux。　There　was　a　path　went　down　the　mountain　but　it　was　steep　and　so　usually　we　took　the　road　and　walked　down　on　the　wide　hard　road　between　fields　and　then　below　between　the　stone　walls　of　the　vineyards　and　on　down　between　the　houses　of　the　villages　along　the　way。　There　were　three　villages；　Chernex；　Fontanivent；　and　the　other　I　forget。　Then　along　the　road　we　passed　an　old　square…built　stone　ch鈚eau　on　a　ledge　on　the　side　of　the　mountain…side　with　the　terraced　fields　of　vines；　each　vine　tied　to　a　stick　to　hold　it　up；　the　vines　dry　and　brown　and　the　earth　ready　for　the　snow　and　the　lake　down　below　flat　and　gray　as　steel。　The　road　went　down　a　long　grade　below　the　ch鈚eau　and　then　turned　to　the　right　and　went　down　very　steeply　and　paved　with　cobbles；　into　Montreux。

We　did　not　know　any　one　in　Montreux。　We　walked　along　beside　the　lake　and　saw　the　swans　and　the　many　gulls　and　terns　that　flew　up　when　you　came　close　and　screamed　while　they　looked　down　at　the　water。　Out　on　the　lake　there　were　flocks　of　grebes；　small　and　dark；　and　leaving　trails　in　the　water　when　they　swam。

In　the　town　we　walked　along　the　main　street　and　looked　in　the　windows　of　the　shops。　There　were　many　big　hotels　that　were　closed　but　most　of　the　shops　were　open　and　the　people　were　very　glad　to　see　us。　There　was　a　fine　coiffeurs　place　where　Catherine　went　to　have　her　hair　done。　The　woman　who　ran　it　was　very　cheerful　and　the　only　person　we　knew　in　Montreux。　While　Catherine　was　there　I　went　up　to　a　beer　place　and　drank　dark　Munich　beer　and　read　the　papers。　I　read　the　Corriere　della　Sera　and　the　English　and　American　papers　from　Paris。　All　the　advertisements　were　blacked　out；　supposedly　to　prevent　munication　in　that　way　with　the　enemy。　The　papers　were　bad　reading。　Everything　was　going　very　badly　everywhere。　I　sat　back　in　the　corner　with　a　heavy　mug　of　dark　beer　and　an　opened　glazed…paper　package　of　pretzels　and　ate　the　pretzels　for　the　salty　flavor　and　the　good　way　they　made　the　beer　taste　and　read　about　disaster。　I　thought　Catherine　would　e　by　but　she　did　not　e；　so　I　hung　the　papers　back　on　the　rack；　paid　for　my　beer　and　went　up　the　street　to　look　for　her。　The　day　was　cold　and　dark　and　wintry　and　the　stone　of　the　houses　looked　cold。　Catherine　was　still　in　the　hairdressers　shop。　The　woman　was　waving　her　hair。　I　sat　in　the　little　booth　and　watched。　It　was　exciting　to　watch　and　Catherine　smiled　and　talked　to　me　and　my　voice　was　a　little　thick　from　being　excited。　The　tongs　made　a　pleasant　clicking　sound　and　I　could　see　Catherine　in　three　mirrors　and　it　was　pleasant　and　warm　in　the　booth。　Then　the　woman　put　up　Catherines　hair；　and　Catherine　looked　in　the　mirror　and　changed　it　a　little；　taking　out　and　putting　in　pins；　then　stood　up。　〃Im　sorry　to　have　taken　such　a　long　time。〃

〃Monsieur　was　very　interested。　Were　you　not；　monsieur？〃　the　woman　smiled。

〃Yes；〃　I　said。

We　went　out　and　up　the　street。　It　was　cold　and　wintry　and　the　wind　was　blowing。　〃Oh；　darling；　I　love　you　so；〃　I　said。

〃Dont　we　have　a　fine　time？〃　Catherine　said。　〃Look。　Lets　go　some　place　and　have　beer　instead　of　tea。　Its　very　good　for　young　Catherine。　It　keeps　her　small。〃

〃Young　Catherine；〃　I　said。　〃That　loafer。〃

〃Shes　been　very　good；〃　Catherine　said。　〃She　makes　very　little　trouble。　The　doctor　says　beer　will　be　good　for　me　and　keep　her　small。〃

〃If　you　keep　her　small　enough　and　shes　a　boy；　maybe　he　will　be　a　jockey。〃

〃I　suppose　if　we　really　have　this　child　we　ought　to　get　married；〃　Catherine　said。　We　were　in　the　beer　place　at　the　corner　table。　It　was　getting　dark　outside。　It　was　still　early　but　the　day　was　dark　and　the　dusk　was　ing　early。

〃Lets　get　married　now；〃　I　said。

〃No；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Its　too　embarrassing　now。　I　show　too　plainly。　I　wont　go　before　any　one　and　be　married　in　this　state。〃

〃I　wish　wed　gotten　married。〃

〃I　suppose　it　would　have　been　better。　But　when　could　we；　darling？〃

〃I　dont　know。〃

〃I　know　one　thing。　Im　not　going　to　be　married　in　this　splendid　matronly　state。〃

〃Youre　not　matronly。〃

〃Oh　yes；　I　am；　darling。　The　hairdresser　asked　me　if　this　was　our　first。　I　lied　and　said　no；　we　had　two　boys　and　two　girls。〃

〃When　will　we　be　married？〃

〃Any　time　after　Im　thin　again。　We　want　to　have　a　splendid　wedding　with　every　one　thinking　what　a　handsome　young　couple。〃

〃And　youre　not　worried？〃

〃Darling；　why　should　I　be　worried？　The　only　time　I　ever　felt　badly　was　when　I　felt　like　a　whore　in　Milan　and　that　only　lasted　seven　minutes　and　besides　it　was　the　room　furnishings。　Dont　I　make　you　a　good　wife？〃

〃Youre　a　lovely　wife。〃

〃Then　dont　be　too　technical；　darling。　Ill　marry　you　as　soon　as　Im　thin　again。〃

〃All　right。〃

〃Do　you　think　I　ought　to　drink　another　beer？　The　doctor　said　I　was　rather　narrow　in　the　hips　and　its　all　for　the　best　if　we　keep　young　Catherine　small。〃

〃What　else　did　he　say？〃　I　was　worried。

〃Nothing。　I　have　a　wonderful　blood…pressure；　darling。　He　admired　my　blood…pressure　greatly。〃

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