Chapter 5

           ThenextafternoonIwenttocallonMissBarkleyagain.ShewasnotinthegardenandIwenttothesidedoorofthevillawheretheambulancesdroveup.InsideIsawtheheadnurse,whosaidMissBarkleywasonduty—"there’sawaron,youknow."

           IsaidIknew.

           "You’retheAmericanintheItalianarmy?"sheasked.

           "Yes,ma’am."

           "Howdidyouhappentodothat?Whydidn’tyoujoinupwithus?"

           "Idon’tknow,"Isaid."CouldIjoinnow?"

           "I’mafraidnotnow.Tellme.WhydidyoujoinupwiththeItalians?"

           "IwasinItaly,"Isaid,"andIspokeItalian."

           "Oh,"shesaid."I’mlearningit.It’sbeautifullanguage."

           "Somebodysaidyoushouldbeabletolearnitintwoweeks."

           "Oh,I’llnotlearnitintwoweeks.I’vestudieditformonthsnow.Youmaycomeandseeherafterseveno’clockifyouwish.She’llbeoffthen.Butdon’tbringalotofItalians."

           "Notevenforthebeautifullanguage?"

           "No.Norforthebeautifuluniforms."

           "Goodevening,"Isaid.