interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第12节
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other to look up Sara Lee at Morley's。 But by this time she was embarked
on the big adventure； and by the time a cable reached Calais there was no
trace of Sara Lee。
During the afternoon she called up Mr。 Travers at his office； and rather
gathered that he did not care to use the telephone during business hours。
〃I just wanted to tell you that you need not bother about me any more；〃
she said。 〃I am being sent over and I think everything is all right。〃
He was greatly relieved。 Mrs。 Travers had not fully indorsed his
encomiums of the girl。 She had felt that no really nice girl would travel so
far on so precarious an errand； particularly when she was alone。 And how
could one tell； coming from America； how her sympathies really lay？ She
might be of German parentage … the very worst sort； because they spoke
American。 It was easy enough to change a name。 Nevertheless； Mr。
Travers felt a trifle low in his mind when he hung up the receiver。 He said
twice to himself： 〃Twenty pounds！〃 And at last he put four sovereigns in
an envelope and sent them to her anonymously by messenger。 Sara Lee
guessed whence they came； but she respected the manner of the gift and
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
did not thank him。 It was almost the first gold money she had ever seen。
She was very carefully searched at the railway station that night and
found that her American Red Cross button； which had come with her
dollar subscription to the association； made the matron inspector rather
kindly inclined。 Nevertheless； she took off Sara Lee's shoes； and ran over
the lining of her coat； and quite ruined the maid's packing of the suitcase。
〃You are going to Boulogne？〃 asked the matron inspector。
Sara Lee did not like to lie。
〃Wherever the boat takes me；〃 she said with smile。
The matron smiled too。
〃I shouldn't be nervous； miss；〃 she said。 〃It's a chance； of course； but
they have not done much damage yet。〃
It was after midnight then； and a cold fog made the station a gloomy
thing of blurred yellow lights and raw chill。 A few people moved about；
mostly officers in uniform。 Half a dozen men in civilian clothes eyed her
as she passed through the gates； Scotland Yard； but she did not know。 And
once she thought she saw Henri； but he walked away into the shadows and
disappeared。 The train； looking as absurdly small and light as all English
trains do； was waiting out in the shed。 There were no porters； and Sara Lee
carried her own bag。
She felt quite sure she had been mistaken about Henri； for of course he
would have come and carried it for her。
The train was cold and quiet。 When it finally moved out it was under
way before she knew that it was going。 And then suddenly Sara Lee's heart
began to pound hard。
It was a very cold and shivering Sara Lee who curled up； alone in her
compartment； and stared hard at Harvey's ring to keep her courage up。 But
a curious thing had happened。 Harvey gave her no moral support。 He
brought her only disapproval。 She found herself remembering none of the
loving things he had said to her； but only the bitter ones。
Perhaps it was the best thing for her； after all。 For a sort of dogged
determination to go through with it all； at any cost； braced her to her final
effort。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
So far it had all been busy enough； but not comfortable。 She was cold；
and she had eaten almost nothing all day。 As the hours went on and the
train slid through the darkness she realized that she was rather faint。 The
steam pipes； only warm at the start； were entirely cold by one o'clock； and
by two Sara Lee was sitting on her feet； with a heavy coat wrapped about
her knees。
The train moved quietly； as do all English trains； with no jars and little
sound。 There were few lights outside； for the towns of Eastern England
were darkened； like London； against air attacks。 So when she looked at the
window she saw only her own reflection； white and wide…eyed； above
Aunt Harriet's fur neckpiece。
In the next compartment an officer was snoring； but she did not close
her eyes。 Perhaps； for that last hour； some of the glow that had brought her
so far failed her。 She was not able to think beyond Folkestone； save
occasionally； and that with a feeling that it should not be made so difficult
to do a kind and helpful thing。
At a quarter before three the train eased down。 In the same proportion
Sara Lee's pulse went up。 A long period of crawling along； a stop or two；
but no resultant opening of the doors； and at last； in a cold rain and a
howling wind from the channel； the little seaport city。
More officers than she had suspected； a few women； got out。 The latter
Sara Lee's experience on the steamer enabled her to place； buyers mostly；
and Americans； on their way to Paris； blockade or no blockade； because
the American woman must be well and smartly gowned and hatted。 A man
with a mourning band on his sleeve carried a wailing child。
The officers lighted cigarettes。 The civilians formed a line on the jetty
under the roof of the shed； and waited； passports in hand； before a door
that gleamed with yellow light。 Faces looked pale and anxious。 The
blockade was on； and Germany had said that no ships would cross that
night。
As if defiantly the Boulogne boat； near at hand； was ablaze； on the
shore side at least； with lights。 Stewards came and went。 Beyond it lay the
harbor； dark and mysterious save where； from somewhere across； a
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
flashlight made a brave effort to pierce the fog。
One of the buyers ahead of Sara' Lee seemed exhilarated by the danger
ahead。
〃They'll never get us；〃 she said。 〃Look at that fog！〃
〃It's lifting； dearie；〃 answered a weary voice behind her。 〃The wind is
carrying it away。〃
When Sara Lee's turn came she was ready。 A group of men in civilian
clothes； seated about a long table； looked her over carefully。 Her passports
moved deliberately from hand to hand。 A long business； and the baby
wailing harder than ever。 But the office was at least warm。 Some of her
failing courage came back as she moved； following her papers； round the
table。 They were given back to her at last； and she went out。 She had
passed the first ordeal。
Suitcase in hand she wandered down the stone jetty。 The Boulogne
boat she passed； and kept on。 At the very end； dark and sinister； lay
another boat。 It had no lights。 The tide was in； and its deck lay almost
flush with the pier。 Sara Lee walked on toward it until a voice spoke to her
out of the darkness and near at hand。
〃Your boat is back there； madam。〃
〃I know。 Thank you。 I am just walking about。〃
The petty officer … he was a petty officer； though Sara Lee had never
heard the term … was inclined to be suspicious。 Under excuse of lighting
his pipe he struck a match； and Sara Lee's young figure stood out in full
relief。 His suspicions died away with the flare。
〃Bad night； miss；〃 he offered。
〃Very；〃 said Sara Lee； and turned back again。
This time； bewildered and uneasy； she certainly saw Henri。 But he
ignored her。 He was alone； and smoking one of his interminable cigarettes。
He had not said he was crossing； and why had he not spoken to her？ He
wandered past down the pier； and she lost him in the shadows。 When he
came back he paused near her； and at last saluted and spoke。
〃Pardon；〃 he said。 〃If you will stand back here you will find less
wind。〃
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
Thank you。〃
He carried her suitcase back； and stooping over to place it at her feet
he said： 〃I shall send him on board with a message to the captain。 When I
come back try again。〃
He left her at once。 The passengers for Boulogne were embarking now。
A silent lot； they disappeared into the warmth and brightness of the little
boat and were lost。 No one paid any attention to Sara Lee standing in the
shadows。
Soon Henri came back。 He walked briskly and touched his cap as he
passed。 He went aboard the Boulogne steamer； and without a backward
glance disappeared。
