u couldn't believe how bad it's been。 I've often thought you were lucky to be hit when you were。〃
〃I know I was。〃
〃Next year will be worse；〃 the major said。 〃Perhaps they will attack now。 They say they are to attack but I can't believe it。 It is too late。 You saw the river？〃
〃Yes。 It's high already。〃
〃I don't believe they will attack now that the rains have started。 We will have the snow soon。 What about your countrymen？ Will there be other Americans besides yourself？〃
〃They are training an army of ten million。〃
〃I hope we get some of them。 But the French will hog them all。 We'll never get any down here。 All right。 You stay here to…night and go out to…morrow with the little car and send Gino back。 I'll send somebody with you that knows the road。 Gino will tell you everything。 They are shelling quite a little still but it is all over。 You will want to see the Bainsizza。〃
〃I'm glad to see it。 I am glad to be back with you again； Signor Maggiore。〃
He smiled。 〃You are very good to say so。 I am very tired of this war。 If I was away I do not believe I would e back。〃
〃Is it so bad？〃
〃Yes。 It is so bad and worse。 Go get cleaned up and find your friend Rinaldi。〃
I went out and carried my bags up the stairs。 Rinaldi was not in the room but his things were there and I sat down on the bed and unwrapped my puttees and took the shoe off my right foot。 Then I lay back on the bed。 I was tired and my right foot hurt。 It seemed silly to lie on the bed with one shoe off； so I sat up and unlaced the other shoe and dropped it on the floor； then lay back on the blanket again。 The room was stuffy with the window closed but I was too tired to get up and open it。 I saw my things were all in one corner of the room。 Outs