第12部分(第1/7 页)

〃I　wasn't。　But　what's　the　idea　of　a　hospital　without　a　doctor？〃

〃He's　ing。　They've　telephoned　for　him　to　Lake　o。〃

〃What　does　he　do　there？　Swim？〃

〃No。　He　has　a　clinic　there。〃

〃Why　don't　they　get　another　doctor？〃

〃Hush。　Hush。　Be　a　good　boy　and　he'll　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　shouldn't　be　rude　to　her。　She's　not　young　and　this　hospital　is　a　big　responsibility　for　her。　Mrs。　Walker's　too　old　and　she's　no　use　to　her。〃

〃She's　a　splendid　woman；〃　I　said。　〃Thank　her　very　much。〃

〃I'm　going　to　bring　your　supper　right　away。〃

〃That's　all　right；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　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