The　rain　had　stopped　and　the　town　was　nearly　empty。　As　we　came　up　the　street　they　were　loading　the　girls　from　the　soldiers'　whorehouse　into　a　truck。　There　were　seven　girls　and　they　had　on　their　hats　and　coats　and　carried　small　suitcases。　Two　of　them　were　crying。　Of　the　others　one　smiled　at　us　and　put　out　her　tongue　and　fluttered　it　up　and　down。　She　had　thick　full　lips　and　black　eyes。

I　stopped　the　car　and　went　over　and　spoke　to　the　matron。　The　girls　from　the　officers'　house　had　left　early　that　morning；　she　said。　Where　were　they　going？　To　Conegliano；　she　said。　The　truck　started。　The　girl　with　thick　lips　put　out　her　tongue　again　at　us。　The　matron　waved。　The　two　girls　kept　on　crying。　The　others　looked　interestedly　out　at　the　town。　I　got　back　in　the　car。

〃We　ought　to　go　with　them；〃　Bonello　said。　〃That　would　be　a　good　trip。〃

〃We'll　have　a　good　trip；〃　I　said。

〃We'll　have　a　hell　of　a　trip。〃

〃That's　what　I　mean；〃　I　said。　We　came　up　the　drive　to　the　villa。

〃I'd　like　to　be　there　when　some　of　those　tough　babies　climb　in　and　try　and　hop　them。〃

〃You　think　they　will？〃

〃Sure。　Everybody　in　the　Second　Army　knows　that　matron。〃

We　were　outside　the　villa。

〃They　call　her　the　Mother　Superior；〃　Bonello　said。　〃The　girls　are　new　but　everybody　knows　her。　They　must　have　brought　them　up　just　before　the　retreat。〃

〃They'll　have　a　time。〃

〃I'll　say　they'll　have　a　time。　I'd　like　to　have　a　crack　at　them　for　nothing。　They　charg