Chapter 3
When Frederic returns from leave, his regiment is still in the same town, but the town has not really changed:
"It was all as I had left it except that now it was spring. I looked in the door of the big room and saw the major sitting at his desk, the window open and the sunlight coming into the room. He did not see me and I did not know whether to go in and report or go upstairs first and clean up. I decided to go upstairs." Chapter 3, pg. 11-12
He goes to the room that he shares with Lieutenant Rinaldi who is sleeping. He wakes and asks Fred how he has been doing and tells him that he should bathe. Fred says that he had the best time in Milan and he met a girl there. Rinaldi says that he is in love with a certain Miss Barkley. The two banter like old friends and are at ease with one another. Rinaldi is a surgeon and has been busy with many sick men. He supposes that the offensive will begin again soon. Rinaldi asks Fred if he should marry Miss Barkley. Fred tells him to go for it. After Fred washes up, Rinaldi asks to borrow 50 lire so that he can make a good impression on Miss Barkley. Fred gives him the money and they leave.
Fred gets drunk at the mess hall and is upset that he did not go to the Arbuzzi. Despite this, Fred and the priest are still good friends, because the priest "had always known what I did not know and what, when I learned it, I was always able to forget." Chapter 3, pg. 14. The captain begins to make fun of the priest again, saying that he cannot be happy without girls. The priest tries to defend himself but the captain accuses the priest of wanting the Austrians to win. The major tells the captain to leave the Priest alone and they all leave the table. Fred does not defend the priest.
Topic Tracking: Friendship 2
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