CHAPTER 40

Summary

Time moved by and Henry and Catherine lived in the same cottage in the months of January and February. The winter was fine and they were happy. The snow softened a bit and it looked like spring. In March, it started raining and even the mountainside looked dismal as snow turned to slush. They decided to move to Lausanne. Catherine preferred Lausanne because it had a hospital. The baby was due in a month. Henry felt that since the winter was almost over, there was no point in staying in the mountain villa. They packed their bags, said good-bye, and took a train to Lausanne. In Lausanne, they went to a hotel. It was still raining. Catherine began unpacking while Henry ordered a whisky and soda and read the newspaper. It was March, 1918, and the German offensive had started in France. Meanwhile, Catherine said that she had to buy some baby clothes. Henry remarked that she should know what to buy because she had been a nurse. She replied that few soldiers had babies in the hospitals. Henry said that he did and was playfully hit by her. They had dinner in the room, some soup and two bottles of wine. Catherine felt that it was not too bad if she drank a little wine.

They stayed at the hotel for three weeks and it was not bad. The weather had now become quite warm. It was almost spring. Catherine bought the things she needed for a baby. Henry went to the gym while Catherine stayed in bed. Sometimes, they both went for carriage rides in the country. It was nice to ride when the days were pleasant, and they found two good places where they could ride out to eat. They had a splendid time. They knew that the baby was very close and it gave them both the feeling as though something was hurrying them and they could not lose any time together.

Notes

Henry and Catherine have the uncanny knack of making a home wherever they go. Whether it was a mundane hospital or a picturesque mountain villa or the most common hotel, their love turns it into a warm home. Again their happiness is short lived because both have the uneasy feeling that time is running out. As the countdown begins for the baby, so does it to their togetherness and happiness. Thomas Hardy, an English novelist wrote, “Happiness is an occasional episode in the general drama of pain.” This is uncannily true of Henry and Catherine.

The year was 1918 and the World War I was in full swing. Europe in particular was engulfed in war. Henry is not particular about what has happened in the war.

Table of Contents | Printable Version | Barron's Booknotes