A Farewell to Arms

When Frederic arrives at the hospital, no one is expecting his arrival. His first challenge is getting into the elevator, which is too small for a stretcher, so the porter helps the stretcher-bearers carry Frederic in the elevator. The nurse, Mrs. Walker, is upset because she doesn’t know what to do with him since no one was expected yet. She is elderly and cannot read Frederic’s papers, which are in Italian, and she begins crying. Frederic takes charge of the situation by having the porter put him in a room, and then, after tipping everyone, he asks everyone to leave so that he can sleep.

The next morning, Miss Gage, a nurse whom Frederic notes is young and pretty, seems much more prepared in taking care of Frederic. She informs him that the doctor is at Lake Como and will be arriving later. He asks her repeatedly when the other nurses will be arriving, clearly hoping to see Catherine soon. He also meets Miss Van Campen, the superintendent, and there is an immediate dislike between the two of them. He asks the porter to get him some wine and vermouth, which he hides under the bed, as well as some