hem。〃

〃I　don't　know。　It's　hard　to　see　inside　the　head　of　the　brave。〃

〃Yes。　That's　how　they　keep　that　way。〃

〃You're　an　authority。〃

〃You're　right；　darling。　That　was　deserved。〃

〃You're　brave。〃

〃No；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　would　like　to　be。〃

〃I'm　not；〃　I　said。　〃I　know　where　I　stand。　I've　been　out　long　enough　to　know。　I'm　like　a　ball…player　that　bats　two　hundred　and　thirty　and　knows　he's　no　better。〃

〃What　is　a　ball…player　that　bats　two　hundred　and　thirty？　It's　awfully　impressive。〃

〃It's　not。　It　means　a　mediocre　hitter　in　baseball。〃

〃But　still　a　hitter；〃　she　prodded　me。

〃I　guess　we're　both　conceited；〃　I　said。　〃But　you　are　brave。〃

〃No。　But　I　hope　to　be。〃

〃We're　both　brave；〃　I　said。　〃And　I'm　very　brave　when　I've　had　a　drink。〃

〃We're　splendid　people；〃　Catherine　said。　She　went　over　to　the　armoire　and　brought　me　the　cognac　and　a　glass。　〃Have　a　drink；　darling；〃　she　said。　〃You've　been　awfully　good。〃

〃I　don't　really　want　one。〃

〃Take　one。〃

〃All　right。〃　I　poured　the　water　glass　a　third　full　of　cognac　and　drank　it　off。

〃That　was　very　big；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　brandy　is　for　heroes。　But　you　shouldn't　exaggerate。〃

〃Where　will　we　live　after　the　war？〃

〃In　an　old　people's　home　probably；〃　she　said。　〃For　three　years　I　looked　forward　very　childishly　to　the　war　ending　at　Christmas。　But　now　I　look　forward　till　when　our　son　will　be　a　lieutenant　mander。〃

〃Maybe　he'll　b