A Farewell to Arms

The summer continues, and Frederic no longer needs crutches, but walks with a cane, going to the Ospedale Maggiore for his physical treatments. Catherine no longer chaperones him since he no longer needs crutches and there is no apparent need for a nurse. So, he spends his days at the hospital, the races, and clubs without her. He reads the newspapers often, getting news of the victories at the front. The Italians have been able to take Kuk and were taking the Bainsizza plateau. The news on the Western Front is not as positive. He is worried about the high casualty rate, and he wonders how the war will continue, despite the victories, because there are still more mountains for the Austrians to fight in.

On the walk back, he sees Mr. and Mrs. Meyers, who have just returned from the races. He then buys chocolate for Catherine and has a drink with some friends, a vice-consul, Ettore Moretti, an Italian soldier from San Francisco who was visiting his parents when war broke out, and two singers, Ralph Simmons and Edgar Saunders. Ettore makes fun of the singers for not being very good and proceeds to brag about the number of medals and wound stripes he has.