A Farewell to Arms Chapter 34

It is difficult for Fred to return to the civilian world, even though the war is not something he misses. On the train, some aviators openly glare at Fred. There are no porters from the hotels at the train station because it is the off season. Fred gets a room at a nice hotel he had stayed in before, and tells the bartender he is on leave. He knows the bartender and was supposed to have sent him American tobacco. From him, he finds out that Catherine is in a hotel near the station. He has a couple of sandwiches and some martinis before he leaves. When he arrives at the hotel unannounced, Catherine is very happy to see him, but Miss Ferguson is not. She keeps saying he is a mess because "I know what sort of a mess you have gotten this girl into, you're no cheerful sight to me." Chapter 34, pg. 236. She says she can't stand him because he is sneaky and she thinks he'll leave Catherine. She also says she's ashamed of Catherine. Catherine reaches out to her, but Miss Ferguson turns her away.

"Take your hand away. . .If you had any shame it would be different. But you're God knows how many months gone with child and you think it's a joke and are all smiles because your seducer's come back. You've no shame and no feelings." Chapter 34, pg. 247

The room is very tense. Miss Ferguson wants them to leave. She continues to cry and Catherine tries to comfort her. She tells Fred that she hates him and then tries to calm down while at the same time telling them to get married. Then she tells Catherine to go off with Fred and leave her immediately. Her outbursts are crazy, but Fred and Catherine stay to have dinner despite Miss Fergeson's reactions. Catherine and Fred spend the night together.

"Often a man wishes to be alone and a girl wishes to be alone too and if they love each other they are jealous of that in each other, but I can truly say we never felt that. We could feel alone when we were together, alone against the others. It has only happened to me like that once." Chapter 34, pg. 249

Fred talks about their relationship. She wants to leave the country because she doesn't want him to be in trouble. He tells her that he doesn't want to live like a criminal. Catherine insists that it is all right because his crime was only to leave the Italian army, and he's not Italian. They get into bed and Catherine tells him that she never has morning sickness. They plan to go to Switzerland by crossing the lake.

Topic Tracking: Friendship 11
Topic Tracking: Love and Sex 11