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was covered。 We took long walks on the other side of the mountain to the Bains de l'Alliaz。 Catherine wore hobnailed boots and a cape and carried a stick with a sharp steel point。 She did not look big with the cape and we would not walk too fast but stopped and sat on logs by the roadside to rest when she was tired。
There was an inn in the trees at the Bains de l'Alliaz where the woodcutters stopped to drink； and we sat inside warmed by the stove and drank hot red wine with spices and lemon in it。 They called it gluhwein and it was a good thing to warm you and to celebrate with。 The inn was dark and smoky inside and afterward when you went out the cold air came sharply into your lungs and numbed the edge of your nose as you inhaled。 We looked back at the inn with light ing from the windows and the woodcutters' horses stamping and jerking their heads outside to keep warm。 There was frost on the hairs of their muzzles and their breathing made plumes of frost in the air。 Going up the road toward home the road was smooth and slippery for a while and the ice orange from the horses until the wood…hauling track turned off。 Then the road was clean…packed snow and led through the woods； and twice ing home in the evening； we saw foxes。
It was a fine country and every time that we went out it was fun。
〃You have a splendid beard now；〃 Catherine said。 〃It looks just like the woodcutters'。 Did you see the man with the tiny gold earrings？〃
〃He's a chamois hunter；〃 I said。 〃They wear them because they say it makes them hear better。〃
〃Really？ I don't believe it。 I think they wear them to show they are chamois hunters。 Are there chamois near here？〃
〃Yes； beyond the Dent de Jaman。〃
〃It was fun seeing the fox。〃
〃When he sleeps he wraps that tail around him to keep warm。〃
〃It must be a lovely feeling。〃
〃I always wanted to have a tail like that。 Wouldn't it be fun if we had brushes like a fox？〃
〃It might be very difficult dressing。〃
〃We'd have clothes made； or live in a country where it wouldn't make any difference。〃
〃We live in a country where nothing makes any difference。 Isn't it grand how we never see any one？ You don't want to see people do you； darling？〃
〃No。〃
〃Should we sit here just a minute？ I'm a little bit tired。〃
We sat close together on the logs。 Ahead the road went down through the forest。
〃She won't e between us； will she？ The little brat。〃
〃No。 We won't let her。〃
〃How are we for money？〃
〃We have plenty。 They honored the last sight draft。〃
〃Won't your family try and get hold of you now they know you're in Switzerland？〃
〃Probably。 I'll write them something。〃
〃Haven't you written them？〃
〃No。 Only the sight draft。〃
〃Thank God I'm not your family。〃
〃I'll send them a cable。〃
〃Don't you care anything about them？〃
〃I did； but we quarrelled so much it wore itself out。〃
〃I think I'd like them。 I'd probably like them very much。〃
〃Let's not talk about them or I'll start to worry about them。〃 After a while I said； 〃Let's go on if you're rested。〃
〃I'm rested。〃
We went on down the road。 It was dark now and the snow squeaked under our boots。 The night was dry and cold and very clear。
〃I love your beard；〃 Catherine said。 〃It's a great success。 It looks so stiff and fierce and it's very soft and a great pleasure。〃
〃Do you like it better than without？〃
〃I think so。 You know； darling； I'm not going to cut my hair now until after young Catherine's born。 I look too big and matronly now。 But after she's born and I'm thin again I'm going to cut it and then I'll be a fine new and different girl for you。 We'll go together and get it cut； or I'll go alone and e and surprise you。〃
I did not say anything。
〃You won't say I can't； will you？〃
〃No。 I think it would be exciting。〃
〃Oh； you're so sweet。 And maybe I'd look lovely； darling； and be so thin and exciting to you and you'll fall in love with me all over again。〃
〃Hell；〃 I said； 〃I love you enough now。 What do you want to do？ Ruin me？〃
〃Yes。 I want to ruin you。〃
〃Good；〃 I said； 〃that's what I want too。〃
40
We had a fine life。 We lived through the months of January and February and the winter was very fine and we were very happy。 There had been short thaws when the wind blew warm and the snow softened and the air felt like spring； but always the clear hard cold had e again and the winter had returned。 In March came the first break in the winter。 In the night it started raining。 It rained on all morning and turned the snow to slush and made the mountain…side dismal。 There were clouds over the lake and over the valley。 It was raining high up the mountain。 Catherine wore heavy overshoes and I wore Mr。 Guttingen's rubber…boots and we walked to the station under an umbrella； through the slush and the running water that was washing the ice of the roads bare； to stop at the pub before lunch for a vermouth。 Outside we could hear the rain。
〃Do you think we ought to move into town？〃
〃What do you think？〃 Catherine asked。
〃If the winter is over and the rain keeps up it won't be fun up here。 How long is it before young Catherine？〃
〃About a month。 Perhaps a little more。〃
〃We might go down and stay in Montreux。〃
〃Why don't we go to Lausanne？ That's where the hospital is。〃
〃All right。 But I thought maybe that was too big a town。〃
〃We can be as much alone in a bigger town and Lausanne might be nice。〃
〃When should we go？〃
〃I don't care。 Whenever you want； darling。 I don't want to leave here if you don't want。〃
〃Let's see how the weather turns out。〃
It rained for three days。 The snow was all gone now on the mountain…side below the station。 The road was a torrent of muddy snow…water。 It was too wet and slushy to go out。 On the morning of the third day of rain we decided to go down into town。
〃That is all right； Mr。 Henry；〃 Guttingen said。 〃You do not have to give me any notice。 I did not think you would want to stay now the bad weather is e。〃
〃We have to be near the hospital anyway on account of Madame；〃 I said。
〃I understand；〃 he said。 〃Will you e back some time and stay； with the little one？〃
〃Yes； if you would have room。〃
〃In the spring when it is nice you could e and enjoy it。 We could put the little one and the nurse in the big room that is closed now and you and Madame could have your same room looking out over the lake。〃
〃I'll write about ing；〃 I said。 We packed and left on the train that went down after lunch。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Guttingen came down to the station with us and he hauled our baggage down on a sled through the slush。 They stood beside the station in the rain waving good…by。
〃They were very sweet；〃 Catherine said。
〃They were fine to us。〃
We took the train to Lausanne from Montreux。 Looking out the window toward where we had lived you could not see the mountains for the clouds。 The train stopped in Vevey； then went on； passing the lake on one side and on the other the wet brown fields and the bare woods and the wet houses。 We came into Lausanne and went into a medium…sized hotel to stay。 It was still raining as we drove through the streets and into the carriage entrance of the hotel。 The concierge with brass keys on his lapels； the elevator； the carpets on the floors； and the white washbowls with shining fixtures； the brass bed and the big fortable bedroom all seemed very great luxury after the Guttingens。 The windows of the room looked out on a wet garden with a wall topped by an iron fence。 Across the street； which sloped steeply； was another hotel with a similar wall and garden。 I looked out at the rain falling in the fountain of the garden。
Catherine turned on all the lights and menced unpacking。 I ordered a whiskey and soda and lay on the bed and read the papers I had bought at the station。 It was March； 1918； and the German offensive had started in France。 I drank the whiskey and soda and read while Catherine unpacked and moved around the room。
〃You know what I have to get； darling；〃 she said。
〃What？〃
〃Baby clothes。 There aren't many people reach my time without baby things。〃
〃You can buy them。〃
〃I know。 That's what I'll do to…morrow。 I'll find out what is necessary。〃
〃You ought to know。 You were a nurse。〃
〃But so few of the soldiers had babies in the hospitals。〃
〃I did。〃
She hit me with the pillow and spilled the whiskey and soda。
〃I'll order you another；〃 she said。 〃I'm sorry I spilled it。〃
〃There wasn't much left。 e on over to the bed。〃
〃No。 I have to try and make this room look like something。〃
〃Like what？〃
〃Like our home。〃
〃Hang out the Allied flags。〃
〃Oh shut up。〃
〃Say it again。〃
〃Shut up。〃
〃You say it so cautiously；〃 I said。 〃As though you didn't want to offend any one。〃
〃I don't。〃
〃Then e over to the bed。〃
〃All right。〃 She came and sat on the bed。 〃I know I'm no fun for you； darling。 I'm like a big flour…barrel。〃
〃No you're not。 You're beautiful and you're sweet。〃
〃I'm just something very ungainly that you've married。〃
〃No you're not。 You're more beautiful all the time。〃
〃But I will be thin again； darling。〃
〃You're thin now。〃
〃You've been drinking。〃
〃Just whiskey and soda。〃
〃There's another one ing；〃 she said。 〃And then should we order dinner up here？〃
〃That will be good。〃
〃Then we won't go out； will we？ We'll ju