interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第2节
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quiet； until a crowd of young people … she knew them by their voices …
went by； laughing。
〃It's horrible；〃 said Sara Lee to herself。 There was a change in her； but
she was still inarticulate。 Somewhere in her mind； but not formulated； was
the feeling that she was too comfortable。 Her peace was a cheap peace；
bought at no price。 Her last waking determination was to finish the afghan
quickly and to to knit for the men at the war。
Uncle James was ill the next morning。 Sara Lee went for the doctor；
but Anna's hour had come and he was with her。 Late in the afternoon he
came； however looking a bit gray round the mouth with fatigue； but
triumphant。 He had on these occasions always a sense of victory； even； in
a way； a eeling of being part of a great purpose。 He talked at such times of
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
the race； as one may who is doing his best by it。
〃Well；〃 he said when Sara Lee opened the door； 〃it's a boy。 Eight
pounds。 Going to be red…headed； too。〃 He chuckled。
〃A boy！〃 said Sara Lee。 〃I … don't you bring any girl babies any more？〃
The doctor put down his hat and glanced at her。
〃Wanted a girl； to be named for you？〃
〃No。 It's not that。 It's only …〃 She checked herself。 He wouldn't
understand。 The race required girl babies。 〃I've put a blue bow on my
afghan。 Pink is for boys；〃 she said； and led the way upstairs。
Very simple and orderly was the small house； as simple and orderly as
Sara Lee's days in it。 Time was to come when Sara Lee； having left it；
ached for it with every fiber of her body and her soul … for its bright
curtains and fresh paint； its regularity； its shining brasses and growing
plants； its very kitchen pans and green…and…white oilcloth。 She was to ache；
too； for her friends … their small engrossing cares； their kindly interest；
their familiar faces。
Time was to come； too； when she came back； not to the little house； it
is true； but to her friends； to Anna and the others。 But they had not grown
and Sara Lee had。 And that is the story。
Uncle James died the next day。 One moment he was there； an uneasy
figure； under the tulip quilt； and the next he had gone away entirely；
leaving a terrible quiet behind him。 He had been the center of the little
house； a big and cheery and not over…orderly center。 Followed his going
not only quiet； but a wretched tidiness。 There was nothing for Sara Lee to
do but to think。
And； in the way of mourning women； things that Uncle James had said
which had passed unheeded came back to her。 One of them was when he
had proposed to adopt a Belgian child； and Aunt Harriet had offered
horrified protest。
〃All right；〃 he had said。 〃Of course； if you feel that way about it … ！ But
I feel kind of mean； sometimes； sitting here doing nothing when there's
such a lot to be done。〃
Then he had gone for a walk and had come back cheerful enough but
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
rather quiet。
There was that other time； too； when the German Army was hurling
itself； wave after wave； across the Yser … only of course Sara Lee knew
nothing of the Yser then … and when it seemed as though the attenuated
Allied line must surely crack and give。 He had said then that if he were
only twenty years younger he would go across and help。
〃And what about me？〃 Aunt Harriet had asked。 〃 But I suppose I
wouldn't matter。〃
〃You could go to Jennie's； couldn't you？〃
There had followed one of those absurd wrangles as to whether or not
Aunt Harriet would go to Jennie's in the rather remote contingency of
Uncle James' becoming twenty years younger and going away。
And now Uncle James had taken on the wings of the morning and was
indeed gone away。 And again it became a question of Jennie's。 Aunt
Harriet； rather dazed at first； took to arguing it pro and con。
〃Of course she has room for me；〃 she would say in her thin voice。
〃There's that little room that was Edgar's。 There's nobody in it now。 But
there's only room for a single bed； Sara Lee。〃
Sara Lee was knitting socks now； all a trifle tight as to heel。 〃I know；〃
she would say。 〃I'll get along。 Don't you worry about me。〃
Always these talks ended on a note of exasperation for Aunt Harriet。
For Sara Lee's statement that she could manage would draw forth a
plaintive burst from the older woman。
〃If only you'd marry Harvey；〃 she would say。 〃I don't know what's
come over you。 You used to like him well enough。〃
I still like him。〃
〃I've seen you jump when the telephone bell rang。 Your Uncle James
often spoke about it。 He noticed more than most people thought。〃 She
followed Sara Lee's eyes down the street to where Anna was wheeling her
baby slowly up and down。 Even from that distance Sara Lee could see the
bit of pink which was the bow on her afghan。 〃I believe you're afraid。〃
〃Afraid？〃
〃Of having children；〃 accused Aunt Harriet fretfully。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
Sara Lee colored。
〃Perhaps I am；〃 she said； 〃but not the sort of thing you think。 I just
don't see the use of it； that's all。 Aunt Harriet； how long does it take to
become a hospital nurse？〃
〃Mabel Andrews was three years。 It spoiled her looks too。 She used to
be a right pretty girl。〃
〃Three years；〃 Sara Lee reflected。 〃By that time…〃
The house was very quiet and still those days。 There was an interlude
of emptiness and order； of long days during which Aunt Harriet alternately
grieved and planned； and Sara Lee thought of many things。 At the Red
Cross meetings all sorts of stories were circulated； the Belgian atrocity
tales had just reached the country； and were spreading like wildfire。 There
were arguments and disagreements。 A girl named Schmidt was militant
against them and soon found herself a small island of defiance entirely
surrounded by disapproval。 Mabel Andrews came once to a meeting and in
businesslike fashion explained the Red Cross dressings and gave a lesson
in bandaging。 Forerunner of the many first…aid classes to come was that
hour of Mabel's； and made memorable by one thing she said。
〃You might as well all get busy and learn to do such things；〃 she stated
in her brisk voice。 〃One of our internes is over there； and he says we'll be
in it before spring。〃
After the meeting Sara Lee went up to Mabel and put a hand on her
arm。
〃Are you going？〃 she asked。
〃Leaving day after to…morrow。 Why？〃 I … couldn't I be useful over
there？〃
Mabel smiled rather grimly。 〃What can you do？〃
〃I can cook。〃
〃Only men cooks； my dear。 What else？〃
〃I could clean up； couldn't I？ There must be something。 I'd do anything
I could。 Don't they have people to wash dishes and…all that？〃
Mabel was on doubtful ground there。 She knew of a woman who had
been permitted to take over her own automobile； paying all her expenses
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
and buying her own tires and gasoline。
She carries supplies to small hospitals in out…of…the…way places；〃 she
said。 〃But I don't suppose you can do that； Sara Lee； can you？〃
However； she gave Sara Lee a New York address； and Sara Lee wrote
and offered herself。 She said nothing to Aunt Harriet； who had by that time
elected to take Edgar's room at Cousin Jennie's and was putting Uncle
James' clothes in tearful order to send to Belgium。 After a time she
received a reply。 We have put your name on our list of volunteers；〃 said
the letter； but of course you understand that only trained workers are
needed now。 France and England are full of untrained women who are
eager to help。〃
It was that night that Sara Lee became engaged to Harvey。
Sara Lee's attitude toward Harvey was one that she never tried to
analyze。 When he was not with her she thought of him tenderly；
romantically
