〃I　see。〃

〃The　Italians　didn't　want　women　so　near　the　front。　So　we're　all　on　very　special　behavior。　We　don't　go　out。〃

〃I　can　e　here　though。〃

〃Oh；　yes。　We're　not　cloistered。〃

〃Let's　drop　the　war。〃

〃It's　very　hard。　There's　no　place　to　drop　it。〃

〃Let's　drop　it　anyway。〃

〃All　right。〃

We　looked　at　each　other　in　the　dark。　I　thought　she　was　very　beautiful　and　I　took　her　hand。　She　let　me　take　it　and　I　held　it　and　put　my　arm　around　under　her　arm。

〃No；〃　she　said。　I　kept　my　arm　where　it　was。

〃Why　not？〃

〃No。〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃Please。〃　I　leaned　forward　in　the　dark　to　kiss　her　and　there　was　a　sharp　stinging　flash。　She　had　slapped　my　face　hard。　Her　hand　had　hit　my　nose　and　eyes；　and　tears　came　in　my　eyes　from　the　reflex。

〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　she　said。　I　felt　I　had　a　certain　advantage。

〃You　were　quite　right。〃

〃I'm　dreadfully　sorry；〃　she　said。　〃I　just　couldn't　stand　the　nurse's…eveningoff　aspect　of　it。　I　didn't　mean　to　hurt　you。　I　did　hurt　you；　didn't　I？〃

She　was　looking　at　me　in　the　dark。　I　was　angry　and　yet　certain；　seeing　it　all　ahead　like　the　moves　in　a　chess　game。

〃You　did　exactly　right；〃　I　said。　〃I　don't　mind　at　all。〃

〃Poor　man。〃

〃You　see　I've　been　leading　a　sort　of　a　funny　life。　And　I　never　even　talk　English。　And　then　you　are　so　very　beautiful。〃　I　looked　at　her。

〃You　don't　need　to　say　a　lot　of　nonsense。　I　said　I　was　sorry。　We　do　get　along。〃

〃Yes