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A Farewell to Arms Chapter 6
Fred goes away for two days and does not see Miss Barkley until the third. He notes the condition of the town and refuses to wear his helmet among the civilians because he thinks it will scare them. He is uncomfortable with the contrast between the military world and the civilian world. Despite this, he wears his gun. He waits for Miss Barkley and they go sit in the garden. She is mad that he didn't send a note saying he was going to be away and she asks if he loves her. He lies and says that he does. She tells him to call her Catherine and she says she loves him and never wants him to leave.
"I kissed her and saw that her eyes were shut. I kissed both her shut eyes. I thought she was probably a little crazy. It was all right if she was. I did not care what I was getting into. This was better than going every evening to the house for officers where the girls climbed all over you and put your cap on backwards as a sign of affection between their trips upstairs with other officers." Chapter 6, pg. 30
He admits that this is a game and that it is hard to make love standing up. Catherine says it is a rotten game and that he doesn't have to pretend that he loves her. She tells him that she isn't mad and that even though he pronounces 'Catherine' funny, he is a good man. They kiss and then she breaks off and runs in. He likes to watch her move. When he gets home, Rinaldi says, "Thank god I did not become involved with the British." Chapter 6, pg. 32.
