The Sun Also Rises Read Online Free Page A

banjo. It was hot and I felt happy. We passed close to Georgette dancing with another one of them.

    â€œWhat possessed you to bring her?”

    â€œI don’t know, I just brought her.”

    â€œYou’re getting damned romantic.”

    â€œNo, bored.”

    â€œNow?”

    â€œNo, not now.”

    â€œLet’s get out of here. She’s well taken care of.”

    â€œDo you want to?”

    â€œWould I ask you if I didn’t want to?”

    We left the floor and I took my coat off a hanger on the wall and put it on. Brett stood by the bar. Cohn was talking to her. I stopped at the bar and asked them for an envelope. The patronne found one. I took a fifty-franc note from my pocket, put it in the envelope, sealed it, and handed it to the patronne.

    â€œIf the girl I came with asks for me, will you give her this?” I said. “If she goes out with one of those gentlemen, will you save this for me?”

    â€œC’est entendu, Monsieur,” the patronne said. “You go now? So early?”

    â€œYes,” I said.

    We started out the door. Cohn was still talking to Brett. She said good-night and took my arm. “Good-night, Cohn,” I said. Outside in the street we looked for a taxi.

    â€œYou’re going to lose your fifty francs,” Brett said. “Oh, yes.”

    â€œNo taxis.”

    â€œWe could walk up to the Pantheon and get one.”

    â€œCome on and we’ll get a drink in the pub next door and send for one.”

    â€œYou wouldn’t walk across the street.” “Not if I could help it.”

    We went into the next bar and I sent a waiter for a taxi.

    â€œWell,” I said, “we’re out away from them.”

    We stood against the tall zinc bar and did not talk and looked at each other. The waiter came and said the taxi was outside. Brett pressed my hand hard. I gave the waiter a franc and we went out. “Where should I tell him?” I asked.

    â€œOh, tell him to drive around.”

    I told the driver to go to the Pare Montsouris, and got in, and slammed the door. Brett was leaning back in the comer, her eyes closed. I got in and sat beside her. The cab started with a jerk.

    â€œOh, darling, I’ve been so miserable,” Brett said.

Chapter IV

    The taxi went up the hill, passed the lighted square, then on into the dark, still climbing, then levelled out onto a dark street behind St. Etienne du Mont, went smoothly down the asphalt, passed the trees and the standing bus at the Place de la Contrescarpe, then turned onto the cobbles of the Rue Mouffetard. There were lighted bars and late open shops on each side of the street. We were sitting apart and we jolted close together going down the old street. Brett’s hat was off. Her head was back. I saw her face in the lights from the open shops, then it was dark, then I saw her face clearly as we came out on the Avenue des Gobelins. The street was torn up and men were working on the car tracks by the light of acetylene flares. Brett’s face was white and the long line of her neck showed in the bright light of the flares. The street was dark again and I kissed her. Our lips were tight together and then she turned away and pressed against the corner of the seat, as far away as she could get. Her head was down.

    â€œDon’t touch me,” she said. “Please don’t touch me.”

    â€œWhat’s the matter?”

    â€œI can’t stand it.”

    â€œOh, Brett.”

    â€œYou mustn’t. You must know. I can’t stand it, that’s all. Oh, darling, please understand!”

    â€œDon’t you love me?”

    â€œLove you? I simply turn all to jelly when you touch me.”

    â€œIsn’t there anything we can do about it?”

    She was sitting up now. My arm was around her and she was leaning back against me, and we were quite calm. She was looking into my eyes with that way she had of looking that